WHEN the Bishop of St Albans the Right Rev Christopher Herbert wrote to me confirming that he would be willing to clear his busy diary so that we could have afternoon tea together and spend a couple of hours thrashing out some weighty and important moral issues, my gratitude quickly turned to curiosity.

The immediate question that formed in my mind was not a deep theological one, but something rather more simple. What I really wanted to know was this was he the proud owner of any unusual or bizarre pets?

After all his predecessor Lord Runcie was renowned for breeding a large number of Berkshire pigs and I also have it on very good authority that one of his close colleagues John Richardson, the Bishop of Bedford used to have a donkey called Timothy who lived in the kitchen of his vicarage.

The question had the ninth Bishop of St Albans guffawing with laughter.

Shaking his head he ruefully admitted: "Nothing exotic I'm afraid just two cats called Harry and Baldrick."

In the two hours I spent with him, the Right Rev Christopher Herbert proved himself to be a most delightful companion. Articulate and intelligent, he came across as the type of fellow who could easily hold his own in the laddish confines of a rugby club bar, yet still maintain the sensitive and compassionate aura of a good priest.

Ordained priest in 1967 his first parish posting was as a curate in Herefordshire and he spent many hours there engaged in what he has subsequently referred to as "the frontline of the most acute human situations".

Ministering to a lady with Parkinson's Disease or having to deal with grief stricken relatives, who would jump down into the grave during a burial service, clearly tested him emotionally, but his coping strategy has always been prayer and solitude. It is through the practice of these two disciplines that, in his view, "the clergy can always retreat back into God".

In January 2001 the bishop spoke in the House of Lords during the embryology issue, informing the chamber that "in this debate I find myself pushed to the very limits. What I need is more wisdom."

Having spent a long time in grassroots ministry Bishop Christopher knows all too well that life cannot be seen in purely black and white terms. He has the humility to admit that many of today's complex moral questions and situations don't have instant solutions, and that issues, such as homosexuality, sex before marriage and divorce, have pitched the church directly into the firing line.

As he said later in the same debate "if anyone suggests that the ethics are simple I shall question their motives".

Born in the Forest of Dean, Christopher Herbert had a loving upbringing and a father who encouraged a Christian lifestyle.

The loss of his mother while very young was an early blow for him, particularly as he had no siblings. However, this misfortune was softened by the subsequent arrival of what he called "a wonderful stepmother".

His father died only a few years ago and saw him rise to prominence within the Church.

The influence of these two individuals has clearly shaped much of his outlook on life and when asked how much he feels he owes them the reply is beautifully succinct "everything".

Bishop Herbert's education at Monmouth School developed two of his life's greatest passions debating and English Literature.

Many of his sermons are scattered with references to poetry and indeed when I asked him what three things besides a Bible he would want to have with him on a desert island, he instantly plumped for his favourite poem by Gerard Manley Hopkins called The Windhover.

In second spot he chose a bottle of the finest claret and last a CD of Elgar, with perhaps some Status Quo tacked onto the end.

After school the bishop spent three years at the University of Wales where he majored in biblical studies and philosophy.

This was followed by a further period of study at Wells Theological College and then a teacher training course at Bristol University.

Clearly such academic work didn't sap all of his energy because Bishop Christopher also managed to woo the girlfriend in his life at the time and persuade her to marry him.

One of his prayer books is dedicated to his wife Janet and contains the inscription: "For her wisdom, astringent common sense and loving kindness over the years."

Janet and their two children are clearly his world. As he cheerfully admits: "Whilst singleness and celibacy may be considered a high calling, they were not something that I could personally aspire to."

The decision to follow a career in the Church was not difficult. The short period of time he spent teaching had been greatly enjoyable but the bishop describes the choice for him was either politics or ordination.

Although his faith was the result of a steady upbringing rather than what he referred to as a "Damascus Road" style conversion, religion was the focus of his life and the draw was too powerful to resist.

"Ultimately spiritual values seemed more important", he explained.

After an early spell as a curate, further moves followed to Farnham in Surrey and in 1990 he was appointed as the archdeacon of Dorking. In January 1996 he was formally enthroned as the Bishop of St Albans.

Having been consecrated a bishop, he has stayed in the diocese ever since, although the imminent retirement of Dr George Carey has led to recent speculation that Bishop Christopher is a possible candidate for selection as the new Archbishop of Canterbury.

Regardless of the betting odds on him going to Canterbury currently steady at 9/2 with William Hill it is clear that St Albans will be losing a good bishop if he goes.

He has expended much time and energy within the diocese on a variety of different charitable causes including committed efforts towards trying to raise the £6.4 million target figure needed to refurbish the abbey and through his direction the Church has continued its quiet and unassuming work in the parishes as well as establishing links with homeless shelters, prisons and a number of other community projects.

Bishop Christopher has also shown himself to be a prolific author. A number of his books on prayer and spirituality have been published, and he has also been a strong encourager of the Church presence on the internet. The Church of England's website even offers viewers the chance to get online and e-mail the bishop directly.

Much of the speculation about Canterbury must come from the fact that Bishop Christopher has played an additional role in Church politics at a national level.

Having entered the House of Lords in November 1999 an opportunity he calls an unbelievable privilege he has been an active member, contributing to debates on human fertilisation and embryology, health and social care and family values.

His daily life as Bishop of St Albans brings with it some stress over what he calls the sheer weight of responsibility.

In addition to looking after more than 300 full-time clergy and 406 church buildings not to mention the growing number of church sponsored schools there are numerous civic duties and visits to be undertaken within the diocese.

However high a position in the Church the bishop may go on to hold he is quite clear that he considers himself to be nothing more than a simple servant of Christ.

The epitaph he would like engraved on his tombstone is simple and unadorned and reflects how he would like his life to be remembered: "Priest, pastor, poet".

And as I bid this gentle, kindly man farewell at the door of his residence one final question flashed across my mind .

I enquired: "If it's not too rude I've always wondered what the average bishop carries around inside his clerical robes?"

Chuckling gently, Bishop Christopher emptied his pockets of all their contents a chocolate mint, approximately three quid in loose change, and the keys to a rather ordinary looking car.

Not even a whiff of scandal there. The man's clearly destined to go straight to heaven when he dies. Let's hope that it's not for a while.

January 10, 2002 16:30