Bishop of Norwich Commends Emergency Unit Staff After Visit; Delivers Christmas Message

Bishop Graham of Norwich expressed inspiration by the dedication of staff at a hospital emergency unit after a recent visit. As is his custom to spend time with an emergency service each Christmas, Bishop Graham visited the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital. During his visit, he observed “sometimes 50 patients an hour turning up for treatment and care and often very traumatic situations” and received a demonstration of the operation of a 60-patient virtual ward. Prior to delivering his official Christmas message on BBC Radio Norfolk, the Anglican bishop honored an elderly couple who tragically died after being struck by a car in High Kelling near Holt, following their departure from a carol service. He stated, “They had given so much to that community and were serving that community all day on Saturday, welcoming people to their church.” He continued, “And what a tragedy that they were both killed as they were, as they were walking home after carol service.” Bishop Graham added, “And so my thoughts and prayers are very much with that community, with that couple’s family. It’s happened just so near Christmas, but that in this season, something of the light of Christ will come into their deepest and dark.” During his primary Christmas address, the Bishop addressed the familial tensions and difficulties often experienced during the holiday season, alongside broader international issues. He stated: “Much of life seems to hover between calm and storm, brightness and darkness.” He further elaborated, “Too much of this year has been about storms and darkness. “War in the Middle East, riots on our streets, dangerously divisive rhetoric around the world, ever worsening news about the climate and biodiversity crisis. “And indeed, the scandal of abuse in the church I serve.”” The Bishop encouraged individuals to recall the essence of the Christmas message, which is “that God’s way is calm and bright.” He remarked, “I keep meeting people who are fostering calm, generating brightness, quietly making a huge difference.” He concluded with a prayer: “So this Christmas, wherever you are, see again the stable and those new parents illuminated by the calm light of an oil lamp.” He added, “So my prayer is that Jesus will fill your Christmas to make it calm and bright.” The geographical jurisdiction of the diocese of Norwich encompasses the majority of Norfolk and the Waveney region of Suffolk. For updates on Norfolk news, follow BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram, and X. Copyright 2024 BBC. All rights reserved. The BBC disclaims responsibility for the content found on external websites. Information regarding our policy on external linking is available.