A GRATEFUL diocese said its goodbyes to the Bishop of Durham at a special service this week.

The diocesan service at Durham Cathedral on Monday allowed both lay and clergy to say its fond farewells to the Right Reverend Michael Turnbull, at the end of his near ten-year stint in the Church's fourth most senior office.

Having announced plans to retire during an interview on Radio Four's Test Match Special at Headingley last August, the cricket-loving bishop has been knocked for six by the messages of goodwill and thanks in the intervening months.

The bishop performed his last official duty on Sunday when he inducted the Reverend Caroline Dicks and Neville Vine as canons of Durham Cathedral.

But Monday's event was a celebration of his years in Durham and a chance for well-wishers to give their formal thanks to both the Bishop and his wife, Brenda.

The new Dean of Durham, The Very Reverend Michael Sadgrove, led the service, which included a dramatic presentation by St Paul's Primary School, in Ryhope, Sunderland.

There was a short ceremonial giving thanks for the life of the North-East in front of the Miners' Memorial in the cathedral. There were also addresses by Gateshead East and Washington West MP Joyce Quin, Rebekah Hewitt, on behalf of the youth of the diocese, and other diocesan 'representatives', Canon Eric Stephenson, Alan Piper, the Venerable Stephen Conway, and Canon Dr John Bridge.

As a gesture to mark his departure the outgoing bishop left the Lightfoot Crozier at the Shrine of St Cuthbert, before proceeding out of the cathedral with his wife.

They plan to settle in retirement in Canterbury, Kent, but the former bishop will return to the cathedral to receive an honorary degree from Durham University chancellor Sir Peter Ustinov, on July 4.

His successor will be Northumberland-born Reverend Canon Tom Wright who will be installed later in the year.