 Bishop Michael speaking at the festal evensong for St Chad's Day with the entire College of Canons present. |
After ten years as Bishop of Lichfield, the Rt Revd Dr Michael Ipgrave has chosen St Chad’s Day, 2 March, to announce his intention to retire. HM the King has graciously given his permission for him to resign the See of Lichfield at the end of September 2026 when he will have been ordained for 44 years. Bishop Michael shared the news with clergy and lay ministers gathered to celebrate St Chad’s Day in Lichfield Cathedral late on Monday afternoon, 2 March. It was ten years exactly since his nomination as 99th Bishop of Lichfield.
Announcing his retirement plans, Bishop Michael referred to the constant inspiration of St Chad over his ten years, describing himself as “humbled to be amongst one of the successors of St Chad, our first and greatest bishop.” He continued, commending Chad’s example: “Chad was the first to bring to Mercia the life-giving, peace-making, soul-restoring gospel of Jesus Christ. As we face the challenge of re-evangelising our contemporary Mercia, I am convinced that we can only do that by walking in his steps of kindness, friendliness and humility in the service of others.”
 Bishop Michael on the day his appointment was announced in 2016 |
In these last months of his ministry, Bishop Michael will be as occupied with this work just as he has been for the last ten years. It will be both business as usual and continuing to lay the foundations of the diocesan strategy for the coming few years. It will also include many opportunities for people across Lichfield Diocese to meet Bishop Michael before he leaves.
 Bishop Michael enjoying the bus during his 2025 Seeking the Kingdom - on Foot Pilgrimage during which he shared the diocesan strategy all over the diocese. |
Speaking about his time in Lichfield Diocese and thanking those who share the task of ministry across the 1800 square miles of the diocese in 423 parishes and over 500 churches, in every community of Staffordshire, North Shropshire and the Black Country, Bishop Michael observes: “I know that I have been blessed over the last ten years to work in one of the friendliest, most down to earth and least pretentious parts of the Church of England; thank you from my heart.”
Responding to the announcement, the Rt Revd Jan McFarlane, Dean of Lichfield, said: “The time for farewells is, thankfully, some months’ away but as Bishop Michael prepares to retire we know already just how very much he will be missed. In the leading of our Diocese our Bishop has modelled true servant leadership, as a prayerful, wise and learned teacher and pastor. We will always remember his openness and honesty following the death of his son, Frank, when even in the very depths of his bereavement he courageously shared with us what he’d learned of God. A prayerful Bishop who loves God and loves his flock is a true gift. We will be holding Bishop Michael and Julia in our prayers as they prepare to say their farewells to a diocese they’ve served with distinction.”
The text of a letter from Bishop Michael to ministers in Lichfield Diocese telling them of his announcement can be read here.
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About the Bishop of Lichfield
The Bishop of Lichfield’s Role: he is the Diocesan Bishop of Lichfield Diocese and the chief pastor or shepherd of Christ’s flock in Staffordshire, North Shropshire and the Black Country. He is guardian of the faith, proclaimer of the gospel of God’s kingdom and leader of mission in the diocese. His responsibilities are shared with three area bishops: of Shrewsbury, Stafford and Wolverhampton, and with the Suffragan Bishop of Oswestry, and with the four archdeacons: of Salop, Stoke-Upon-Trent, Lichfield and Walsall, with the Dean of the Cathedral who is the senior parish priest of the diocese and with over 300 clergy and 150 licensed lay ministers in the 423 parishes of the diocese, supported by active retired clergy and lay ministers too. Bishop Michael is one of 26 Bishops in the House of Lords, introduced there by length of service in 2023. He is by virtue of office a member of the General Synod, the Governing Body of the Church of England. He chairs the Liturgical Commission of the Church of England, and is also a member of its Faith and Order Commission. He has a long-held interest and expertise in ecumenical and inter-faith matters, work for which he was awarded the OBE in 2012.