Following news of Revd Canon Dr Graham Dodds retirement as Bishops’ Chaplain Bishop Ruth is delighted to welcome Revd Kate Scott as the new Bishops’ Chaplain. Kate started work at the Bishop’s Palace on the first of November.
Kate moved to the diocese a year ago from Bedfordshire where she was ordained. Prior to her ordination Kate was a teacher for 25 years. She moved to Somerset from a parish in a little village on the outskirts of Bedford with her husband Guy who is the vicar at St John’s in Midsomer Norton. Kate is passionate about supporting those who suffer problems with their mental health. For the past seven months she has been working for the NHS across Somerset with the Somerset Foundation Trust in community and mental health.
Bishop Ruth said, "Kate is going to be a fantastic addition to our team. She comes with prayerfulness, with clear insight to what ministry is all about; both ordained and lay, experiencing some of the diversity of the church and the challenges we face and with a deep desire to be supportive, pastorally caring to both clergy and laity alike. I look forward to working with her.”
Kate said she is, “Excited about a hugely varied role. I am excited about getting to know the diocese, the places and above all the people. Hearing lots of stories, some of them easy and some hard to hear, but I think it’s important that we all have a chance to tell our stories. I’m looking forward to working with Bishop Ruth and being able to support her in her ministry and to help the diocese and the bishop’s office run smoothly so we can get on with the important job that we all have of sharing the good news.”
As we welcome Kate, we also say goodbye to Graham, who has been Bishops’ Chaplain since 2017 and with the diocese since 1991. He was vicar of St Swithins in Bath before joining the Training Team in Wells. He later the Discipleship Team Leader in the Ministry for Mission team. Graham said of his time as Bishops’ Chaplain,“It’s been a huge privilege working with and for Bishop Peter and Bishop Ruth, and latterly working more closely with the Archdeacons. It has been a time of fellowship as well as work. We say prayers together and we share the ups and downs of our lives and that is tremendously supportive, and I will miss that. I will also miss my colleagues in the Bishops’ Office, who have been such good fun to work with.”
Bishop Ruth said, “We are sad to be saying goodbye to Graham in the role of Bishops’ Chaplain. He comes with a real desire to be part of a learning community and I know he will take that into his retirement, so I look forward to still having him within shouting distance. I know he’s going be an incredible support not just to Kate as she comes into her new role, but to also to serve as a priest within our diocese.”