VISIT BY BISHOP OF SODOR AND MAN
The Bishop of Sodor and Man, the Right Reverend Peter Eagles and his wife, Gail, are currently spending some time in our Diocese.
They arrived yesterday and were treated to a short tour of the Dail with the Reverend Trevor Sargent to experience our national parliament.
This is something of interest to Bishop Eagles given that he, as Bishop of Sodor and Man, is a member of the Legislative Council of Tynwald (the Manx Parliament).
The Diocese of Sodor and Man is the smallest Diocese in the Church of England, overseeing 45 churches and 27 parishes.
Bishop Eagles and his wife then proceeded with Bishop Burrows to Bunclody where they had afternoon tea with the Reverend Michael Stevenson and his wife, Alison.
This was because, before his appointment as Bishop of Sodor and Man (the Isle of Man), the Right Reverend Peter Eagles was the Deputy Assistant Chaplain General of the British Army. Reverend Michael Stevenson had served with him in the Royal Army Chaplains Department for many years in the UK so it was an opportunity for Bishop Eagles to reconnect with a former colleague who now works in this Diocese.
Today Bishop Eagles and his wife visited the medieval sights of Kil kenny, met Diocesan Office staff and some clergy and were also introduced to Phyllis Grothier, All-Ireland President of the 
Later in the afternoon our visitors went to Cashel Cathedral.
But how did this link with the Diocese of Sodor and Man come about?
“The link between this Diocese and the Diocese of Sodor and Man originated in a conversation between myself and the then bishop of Sodor and Man during a Celtic bishops’ conference in 2006,” says Bishop Burrows.
“We thought a link would be enriching and appropriate as we have so much common heritage.
Sodor and Man, in terms of size and style of episcopal ministry, is so much more like an Irish diocese than an English one. For me of course there was the additional lure of vintage railways!”
Asked to tell us a little about his visit this is what Bishop Peter Eagles had to say:
“The Diocese of Sodor and Man is the smallest and most westerly Diocese of the Church of England. We have a link with this Diocese of Cashel, Ferns and Ossory which I am really keen to establish and to build up and to continue so the relations with Bishop Michael is very important to me. This is my first visit over here having just been on the Isle of Man for six months. Bishop Michael came to visit us just before Christmas so I’ve come here with Gail, my wife, just before Holy Week and Easter to see something of the life of the Diocese here and to offer you my best wishes and my prayers for Holy Week and for Easter and as we continue to build on that shared relationship that we have.” Listen to Bishop Eagles below: