History will be made this weekend as a service to consecrate bishops in the Church in Wales will be live-streamed for the first time.
People from across Wales and beyond will be able to join in the service at St Deiniol’s Cathedral in Bangor as the new Bishop of Swansea and Brecon, John Lomas, and the new Assistant Bishop in Bangor, Mary Stallard, are consecrated.
The consecration service takes place today (February 26), starting at 2.30pm, and will be live-streamed from 2pm at: https://www.churchinwales.org.uk/en/about-us/bishops/ordination-and-consecration-service/ and also on the Bangor Cathedral Facebook page.
It is being held at Bangor Cathedral as that is the seat of the Archbishop of Wales, Andrew John, who is also the Bishop of Bangor.
The new bishops will be led into the Cathedral by a long procession which will include representatives from all of the dioceses and cathedrals of Wales. During the service, the new bishops will be anointed with holy oil and presented with the symbols of office: a bishop’s episcopal ring, a pectoral cross and mitre, as well as a Bible and a pastoral staff.
They will be consecrated by the Archbishop and the four other Church in Wales bishops. An address will be given by the Archdeacon of Anglesey, Andrew Herrick.
New music, composed for the occasion, will be performed for the first time at the service. The choir of Saint Deiniol’s Cathedral will sing a setting of the Communion texts by Joe Cooper, based on the melodies of well-known Welsh hymns. A special anthem, composed by Simon Ogdon, will be sung at a high point in the service, immediately before the two new bishops are ordained.
Archbishop Andrew said: “This is an exciting time for the Church in Wales as we start the year with two new bishops and are able to open our churches and welcome people to join us for this significant service.
“Thanks to the leaps and bounds we have taken in digital technology since the start of the pandemic we are now able to broadcast the service live so everyone who wants to tune in and celebrate with us is able to do so. I hope many of you will do that, if possible, and will join in our prayers for Bishop John and Bishop Mary as they begin their new ministries.”
Following the consecration service, Bishop Mary will be welcomed to her new role in Bangor Diocese with a celebration service on St David’s Day, March 1, at 2.30pm. She will be greeted by people from across Bangor Diocese and will co-preside with the Archbishop of Wales and Bishop of Bangor, Andrew John, at a celebration of the Holy Eucharist. This service will also be live-streamed.
Meanwhile, Bishop John will be enthroned as the 10th Bishop of Swansea and Brecon at Brecon Cathedral, which is the seat of the Diocese, on March 5. He will be installed in the Bishop’s chair and also welcomed by representatives from across Swansea and Brecon Diocese. The service begins at 2pm and entry is by ticket only due to limited space. It will also be live-streamed.
Assistant Bishop of Bangor, Mary Stallard:
Bishop of Swansea and Brecon, John Lomas: