Bishop of Durham Paul Butler moved out of County Durham home

Reverend Paul Butler may have moved into the property on Etherley Lane in Bishop Auckland in 2014 with his wife Rosemary, but it was farewell from the home on Tuesday (March 12), as a removal company helped the couple to move.

Reverend Paul Butler may have moved into the property on Etherley Lane in Bishop Auckland in 2014 with his wife Rosemary, but it was farewell from the home on Tuesday (March 12), as a removal company helped the couple to move (Image: SARAH CALDECOTT)

The Bishop’s home came complete with a five-a-side football pitch, outdoor dining area and a hot tub.

At a look back through the archives, he and Mrs Butler celebrated their first night in Bishop Auckland with a meal at the town’s Wetherspoon’s pub, The Stanley Jefferson, ten years ago.

The former Bishop was moved out of his Bishop Auckland home on Tuesday (March 12) (Image: SARAH CALDECOTT)

The former Bishop and his wife were the fourth family to live in the 110-year-old house, which the Church of England bought in 2014 after the sale of Auckland Castle; the traditional home of Durham’s Bishop in Bishop Auckland.

In his ten years in the role since moving from Nottinghamshire, where Reverend Butler was the Church of England's fourth most senior cleric, he played a leading role in championing the region and bringing consistency through the uncertain times of the pandemic.

The move from the outgoing Bishop of Durham comes after he announced his retirement earlier this year, which saw a farewell service at Durham Cathedral, and his official retirement day at the end of February. 

Recommended reading:

• County Durham bar closed after spiking and sexual assault incidents

• 'People are chuffed to have it back': Darlington pub reopens after 10 months

• Concerns the Darlington countryside could be engulfed by huge solar farm

Don't miss out on the latest news and stories. Subscribe to The Northern Echo for just £4 for 4 months.

He will be replaced in the role by the Bishop of Jarrow, the Right Reverend Sarah Clark, who becomes Acting Bishop of Durham - a move that was announced on March 5.

Following historical precedent dating back to the thirteenth century, the Chapter of Durham Cathedral has written to the Archbishop of York informing him that they wish Bishop Sarah to serve as Acting Bishop of Durham while the role is vacant.

During the move of Reverend Butler, movers from Bishop Auckland-based firm Ingram’s were seen at the property lifting boxes into a truck and loading all of the Reverend's possessions into a truck.

In images, Malcolm Ingram from Ingram's could be seen alongside Reverend Butler and Mrs Butler and four removal people.

Malcolm Ingram, the owner of Ingram's, revealed that it was easier to move the retiring Bishop of Durham out of the property than it was moving him back in, given that it only took two vans this time, as opposed to three vans moving him in.

Mr Ingram said: "It wasn't too bad to move the Bishop and his wife out of the house - Rosemary, his wife, let us in a few weeks before - and we managed to box up books, china and other delicate items."

While the owner of Ingram's didn't want to disclose where the departing Bishop was moving to, even if it has previously been revealed it is Newark-on-Trent in Nottinghamshire - Mr Ingram did say that Belfast sinks, a piano and piles of books were the most difficult items to move.

He added: "We have a few days where we'll be moving the Bishop into his new house. It's impressive that we helped him to move out ten years after moving him in and it's practically the same team that moved him in."