Photo: Lambeth Palace
There were cheers and applause at the end of a service to consecrate Bishop Mary Gregory and Bishop Dave Bull today. The service, during which the Revd Canon Mary Gregory was consecrated as the new Bishop of Reading and the Revd Canon Dave Bull as the new Bishop of Buckingham, was led by Archbishop of York at Canterbury Cathedral.
The service began at 11am with a procession of senior bishops and clergy to the West End of the Nave of Canterbury Cathedral. Dr Jane Williams, the McDonald Professor in Christian Theology at St Mellitus College, delivered the sermon. Towards the end of the service, the newly ordained bishops turned to face the congregation while the Bishop of London, the Right Reverend Sarah Mullally, formally welcomed them with a special prayer.
Archbishop Stephen said:
“It was a real privilege to consecrate Mary, Dave, Esther, and Andrew today, and wonderful to see Luke consecrated as Bishop of Richborough. Each of them brings a wealth of skills and experience to their new role. The Church will be richly blessed by their ministry.
“This is a challenging time yet the work of the Church goes on. From after-school groups and choral evensongs to food banks, chaplaincies, and countless quiet acts of service, members of our churches continue to demonstrate the transformational love of Christ. This is the vocation of the Church and the new bishops consecrated today will help lead and support this mission.”
Bishop Mary said:
“…life with God is an adventure, full of surprises, and I am sure that God is now inviting me to this new work as Bishop of Reading. Into that role, I will take my commitment to reconciliation and my absolute conviction that God loves and welcomes all of us.”
Bishop Dave said:
“It is an exciting prospect to serve Buckinghamshire as Bishop in the coming years. My family have made it our home for the past 13 years and so we have already come to love many of the communities, schools and churches here. I look forward to coming to love all the others in the years ahead.”
Bishops Mary and Dave will attend welcome services in their areas of episcopal ministry this weekend, at All Saints High Wycombe on Saturday and Reading Minster on Sunday. Following that the diocese will officially welcome them both at choral evensong at Christ Church Cathedral on 8 March where they will be installed.
Bishop Steven said:
“It has been an absolute joy to be part of the service to ordain Bishop Dave as the next Bishop of Buckingham. Dave’s deep personal sense of discipleship and mission will be a rich blessing for the Buckingham episcopal area. He brings to his ministry a track record as a strategic leader which I have seen at work during his time as Area Dean or the Wycombe Deanery. We will be praying for Dave and his family as they begin this new ministry alongside us.
“Equally, it brings me great joy to welcome Bishop Mary to our diocese, following her consecration. I know she brings with her a great warmth, humanity and a profound understanding of the healing power of reconciliation in God’s world. Her passion for God and all God’s people shone through her ministry in Coventry and I know will be at the heart of her work here in the Reading area and beyond. We pray she will be a blessing to the diocese as she takes this next step in her vocation.”
Notes to Editor
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