CHURCHGOERS will officially bid farewell to the Bishop of Bolton tomorrow (Sunday) with a service of Thanksgiving at Bolton Parish Church.

The Rt Rev Chris Edmondson has opted to retire on June 30 – the 43rd anniversary of his ordination and his 66th birthday and the service is an opportunity for those he has come into contact with to give thanks for his work in the area.

Hundreds of representatives from churches within the diocese, as well and friends and colleagues will gather at the church for the 3pm service.

Extra seating is being brought in for what is expected to be the biggest event in the building since the Queen’s Jubilee service four years ago.

Bishop Chris announced last year that he was planning to retire.

He was appointed as Bishop of Bolton in 2008 having previously served as warden of Lee Abbey, a Christian community and conference centre in Devon.

For most of his career Bishop Chris was a parish priest, having trained at St John’s College, Durham.

Following ordination he became a curate in Huddersfield and then led parishes in the Halifax, Carlisle and Shipley areas before moving to Devon.

Throughout his time in Bolton Bishop Chris had earned praise for his efforts to promote inter-faith harmony and community cohesion and he has involved himself in causes such as challenging poverty and the growth in the need for food banks and the use payday loans.

Bishop Chris and his wife Susan plan to spend their retirement living between Bradford and Leeds, with the bishop spending more time following his beloved Bradford City FC and Yorkshire Cricket Club.

The Bishop of Manchester, David Walker, has paid tribute to him stating: “Bishop Chris is a wonderful colleague to work with.

“I had admired his passion for mission and his loving care for clergy and lay people, from long before we were given the opportunity to minister together, here in the Diocese of Manchester.

“I will miss him greatly.”