Bishop John’s final Sunday at St Mary’s Cathedral

On Sunday 24 August, the Right Reverend Dr John Armes, Bishop of Edinburgh, who retires at the end of the month, attended his final services at St Mary’s Cathedral – preaching and presiding at the Cathedral Eucharist in the morning, and bidding a final farewell at Choral Evensong.

There were presentations and speeches, and laughter as well as tears, at both services. 

Some moments from Bishop John’s final Cathedral Eucharist on the morning of 24 August 2025.
Photos: Peter Backhouse

Bishop John’s final Choral Evensong on the afternoon of 24 August 2025.
Photos: Peter Backhouse

At Choral Evensong, the Very Reverend Frances Burberry, Dean of the Diocese, thanked Bishop John for his 13 years of service. After gifts were presented to him and his wife Clare, Bishop John spoke of his gratitude for the privilege of being elected bishop of the Diocese of Edinburgh, and named many of the people who had been such an important part of his time as bishop, before reflecting on Clare’s contribution to his ministry over 42 years.  

Then, recalling some correspondence with a PhD student who, as a result of a typo, told him they were writing their thesis on ‘Dessert’ Spirituality, Bishop John painted a picture of life as three courses – the main course was now almost over, and, after a pause to let the food settle, he and Clare now had the opportunity to study the dessert menu. Bishop John concluded: 

‘All of us are called to work out with God what it means, within the context and constraints of our own existence, to live the Good Life. And that includes how we approach the ending of this life and the knowledge that we shall at some point receive our “just desserts”.  

‘With this in mind, I apologise to any who may have been hurt or disappointed by my ministry. A bishop is, as Rowan Williams put it, “a deeply unreliable ally” and this bishop, like all bishops, is fallible and likely to disappoint – which is why an election every so often is a thoroughly good thing. 

‘At the Diocesan Day in May, I shared my belief that this diocese is in a good place and that the rumour of God is alive and well, that people within the church and beyond the church are finding a new sense of God’s presence and purpose. I am almost envious of my successor, whoever she or he or they may be, to have the thrill of leading this diocese in this church in this nation at this time… almost envious. But I know the time is right to stop, that this is God’s time for me and for the diocese.  

‘The next few months are going to be oddly challenging. Clare and I will often feel bereft. But it’s been wonderful, these past years, so many memories, so many friends, so many precious lessons in what it means to follow Jesus along the Way.  

‘Thank you so much, and as we continue along that Way, now in a different relationship with one another, if you can find time to pray for Clare and me we shall be immensely grateful – and please be assured that we shall most certainly pray for you.’ 

All photos: Peter Backhouse