The beginning of a new academic year was the chance to address this with a four-day tour of Switzerland in the company of the Archdeacon, Peter Hooper.

The Chrism Mass is a key moment each year when the unity of those engaged in public ministry is manifested and renewed, and when the sacred oils of baptism, the sick and chrism are blessed for distribution across the diocese.

It was not what I was planning for the week after the New Year break, but nevertheless it was a privilege to be one of the representatives of the Anglican Communion at the funeral of Pope Benedict XVI.