Bishop recalls his memorable moments as he prepares to go

When he stands down on July 14 the bishop will have been in office for almost eight years.

He said: "One of my best memories is baptising people in the River Wharfe by Bolton Priory on what was the sunniest day of 2008. With a congregation of hundreds and many people passing by, it was a public witness to the joy of Christian worship and as we gave away 500 ice creams, it was also a picture of God's generosity.

"It's been a real privilege to be with people during confirmations and ordinations and going to places where people assume the Church is dead to find wonderful, vibrant communities. They may be small but they're living so sacrificially and graciously that you can smell heaven while you're with them.

"I've loved going to schools – for example, sharing in science lessons in a secondary school and reading Winnie the Pooh to primary school children.

"And I particularly remember a service at St John's, Ben Rhydding for people with learning difficulties from all over West Yorkshire. Watching them dancing, led by a sacred dance group, was a very special moment." Children will sing for the bishop and his wife, Gill, at a party at St John's CE Primary School in Bierley on Wednesday.

All Bradford Church of England headteachers and retired headteachers have been invited.

Speaking about how the diocese has developed over the past eight years, the bishop said: "There have been lots of wonderful experiments in worship involving children and we have more youth workers now. There's been an enormous increase in the number of non stipendiary (unpaid) ministers, and it's been very encouraging to see Bradford Cathedral transformed so that it's once again an important feature in the life of the city and the diocese."

Recalling the recent memorial service in Bradford, the bishop said: "Another very moving and recent memory is the 25th anniversary of the fire at Bradford's football stadium. I walked among the crowd and met many people who could remember it as if it was yesterday."