Pectoral Cross left to Diocese
Posted Monday 10 November 2008
The Pectoral Cross left to the Diocese
The late Bishop Kenneth Woollcombe has left his Pectoral Cross and Episcopal Ring to the Diocese of St Andrews, Dunkeld and Dunblane. Bishop Woollcombe was Principal of Coates Hall from 1963 to 1971 and was a major influence on the formation of a generation of clergy of the Scottish Episcopal Church. In 1971, he became Bishop of Oxford and Assistant Bishop of London in 1978.
Bishop David recently visited Worcester to receive the Cross and Ring from Bishop Woollcombe’s wife, Juliet. They are the work of Omar Ramsden, a well-known ecclesiastical goldsmith in the first half of the 20th century. Bishop David said: ‘Our Diocese is honoured to receive these gifts. Kenneth Woollcombe was Bishop of Oxford when I was a student there. He made a great impression on me at that time. I think he was an exceptionally gifted preacher.’
One of Bishop David’s friends, who was a student at Coates Hall, recalls receiving from Kenneth Woollcombe a card to mark his ordination. It read simply, ‘Enjoy yourself - at the expense of the grace of God.’
