Mr Chairman, this is our last opportunity as a Synod to express our appreciation to the Bishop of Oxford for the work he has done over many years for us. I think it is fair to say that, in Richard, the 20th Century Church of England – and the 21st Century Church of England for that matter – has had one of its truly great and memorable figures.

Richard's career has spanned a number of different worlds. His time in the Royal Corps of Signals may explain something of his communications skills and he was sensible enough to read theology at Cambridge like so many people and, having worked at Hampstead Parish Church, he subsequently taught at Wells Theological College; was then Vicar of All Saints', Fulham for nine years and there it was, Richard, that our paths first crossed when we sent you curates from Westcott House.

After that he had a distinguished tenure as Dean of King's College London and then became Bishop of Oxford in 1987, where he had the rather unwelcome task of being my Bishop. He doesn't know this, but I had a very distinctive role in his appointment as Bishop of Oxford. I happened to be Canon in Residence the week that the Chapter in Christchurch confirmed Richard's appointment, elected him formally as Bishop of Oxford, which means that I was the one who sealed and signed the deed on behalf of the Chapter of Christchurch, Oxford; I have to say that, of all my formal activities at Christchurch, I shall consider that as one of the better spent mornings.

What will Richard be remembered for? I suppose most of us will be quite glad to be remembered for only one or two things; Richard will be remembered for so many. He'll be remembered as a broadcaster; eleven years on Prayer for the Day on Radio 4 and of course one of the most familiar and indeed you could say definitive voices on Thought for the Day and insiders tell me, authoritatively, that he was regarded (and still is regarded) as one of the great stars of Thought for the Day, more than any other individual I suspect, he has shaped what that means for the nation.

He might be remembered for his writing; as the author of – I think – 37 books; he makes even those others of us who try and write occasionally look rather Trappist. His books on Christian doctrine, Christianity and social order, on the frontier between Christianity and the Arts and on prayer remain as a formidable deposit of wisdom. He's also of course, in the intervals between all of this, been a highly effective diocesan bishops, using his administrative skills to re-shape diocesan communication, prioritise education and training in oxford, manage the financial affairs of the diocese and to encourage and model consultation and debate.

Or then we might think of his pioneering work in interfaith relations. His Chairmanship of CCJ, work with the Anglican Peace and Justice Network, a significant role which he exercised at the 1988 Lambeth Conference in, again, shaping a vision and a policy. But in case you think that's too little, there's also his work in the House of Lords; his work and focus there, his highly professional focus on social ethics and medical ethics as unofficial leader – 'gaffer' you might say – of the Lords Spiritual; he's the first person who's organised the work of the Bishops in the Lords on a portfolio basis and, once again insiders will confirm that he will be remembered as an authoritative, impressive figure; someone who's made a really distinctive contribution.

Within the House of Bishops he has been a hard worker, a wise counsellor and somebody to whom difficult tasks are relegated with great relief and delight by the rest of us. He deserves a medal for chairing over 30 meetings of the Issues in Human Sexuality group and for all the hugely creative work that he's done in that area. And that of course relates to his work on the Board of Social Responsibility, as it was, and the definitive contribution he made to anti-apartheid argument and activism. Not many bishops have a legal judgement named after them but the Oxford Judgement, arising from his case against he Church Commissioners in respect of investment in South Africa will go down in the history books and the law books as well.

So appropriately and biblically, at least seven areas for which Richard deserves to be remembered, but I hope that we will most of us remember him most warmly as a guide, a friend, a pastor. When I was first elected Bishop of Monmouth Richard gave me memorable and sound advice on how to exercise my ministry which has stayed with me. We hope Richard that you will enjoy a not too quiet retirement, because I suspect that we'll all agree that yours voice is too important to be silenced in the counsels of the church and the nation. We hope that you'll continue to feel warmly towards the Church that you have served and to go on serving it in prayer and wisdom and teaching in the years ahead. Nonetheless we do wish you and Jo a peaceful, and fruitful and long and happy retirement and we thank you with all our hearts for everything you have given all of us over these many years.

© Rowan Williams 2005