Recent Retirements in the Diocese

As a rule I announce on this website any retirements from active ministry in the diocese. In the last three months there have been three such retirements which I note below.  


The Reverend Canon Geoffrey Evans retired as Priest-in-Charge of the Anglican Church of St Nicholas, Ankara, Turkey on 5 October. Fr Geoffrey has had an illustrious career in this diocese having previously served in Izmir, Istanbul, Rome and Moscow. He was the last post-holder of the magnificent title Archdeacon of the Aegean, which he held from 1978 - 1994. In June he was honoured with an OBE in the Queen's birthday list. In his retirement, Fr Geoffrey has Permission to Officiate which will come in useful in our developing work on the Turkish coast.


The Reverend Deacon Ann Babb, the Assistant Curate in the Anglican Church of St Boniface, Antwerp, Belgium retired on 20 November. Deacon Ann has had a long association with St Boniface, and with the Mission to Seafarers chaplaincy in the port. She was ordained deacon in 2006 and has helped to open up the awareness of this distinctive ordained ministry within our diocese. Although now officially retired she continues to serve St Boniface's parish with Permission to Officiate.

The Reverend Robert Ellis, Chaplain of the Anglican Church of SS Philip & James, Palma de Mallorca, Spain  retired on 7 December. He has led this active parish since 2001 in outreach to the 50,000 British who reside on the island, as well as to the vast numbers of visitors.  Fr Robert has also served on Diocesan Synod and on Bishop's Council and has shared extensively his considerable knowledge of Church communications.  


We wish Fr Geoffrey, Deacon Ann and Fr Robert every blessing in their retirement and thank God for their service to his people.

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