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When the Rt Revd John Gladwin and his wife Lydia found out they were moving from Surrey to Essex, where he was Bishop of Guildford, there was a mixed reaction from the parishoners.

"The WAG’s in the Diocese of Guildford gave me a pair of white socks.  Not quite the stiletto heels, but that sort of gift, when they heard we were coming here," says Lydia Gladwin. 

The county was something of a mystery to the couple who had travelled through on the way to Suffolk.

"I have to say I've been quite delighted by Essex.  The beauty of the county - the wonderful coastline and the variety," adds Lydia.

Making her mark

As wife of the Bishop of Chelmsford, Lydia has a vital role supporting her husband. However, she has also carved out her own niche within the community.

"I've always had an awareness of some of the difficulties clergy spouses can feel.  I felt, as I had done in Sheffield and Surrey, that we needed some kind of structure whereby some support is available for clergy spouses."

The result was SOCKS - Support of Chelmsford Clergy Spouses.  The service provides an e-mail or 'snail' mail network to allow spouses to keep in contact with one and other. 

Lydia's main role has been in her work with the prison service.  MUDPIES - Mothers' Union and Diocese Prison Initiatives was established to help the men and their families who are serving sentences in the county's two prisons.

At Bullwood Hall she is rightly proud of the play area in the welcome centre.

An important part was working in prisons

Governor of Bullwood Hall, Paul Wailen thinks the work MUDPIES is invaluable to the prisoners:  "They have the opportunity to sit down with people who've got time to talk and listen to them and are not seen as part of the system.

"They appreciate that volunteers are coming in, in their own time but are coming from a very disparate group of interests and professions and may have something to contribute to what they want to do when they get released," explains Paul.

Lydia has also been involved with children's guardian work in the courts, served as trustee of the Rural Housing Trust and acted as a trustee of the Children's Legal Centre based at the University of Essex.

Moving on

After five years in the county the Rt Revd John Gladwin will retire from his role as the ninth Bishop of Chelmsford. 

The couple plan to move over the border to Hertfordshire where they own a home. 

"We've enjoyed working with other people in public office and meeting with them, and working with them, that side of things we shall miss.  But life has to move on," says Lydia.

Bishop John was ordained in 1968

They're also looking forward to having time to travel to meet up with the many friends that they have made across the world.  They'll also be hoping to spend time working in their garden and getting involved in the local community.

However, they won't be taking a complete break from public life.  Bishop John has taken on the role of National Chair of Citizens Advice, whilst Lydia will become the Chair of the Children's Legal Centre.

"We both think we're very fortunate to have pieces of work which, hopefully, will allow us to have a slightly less frenetic life but will keep the old grey cells turning and continue to allow us to make a small contribution to public life."