Bishop is welcomed by all ages in packed cathedral

Drummers, dancers and children waving flags formed part of the colourful and dramatic service of welcome for the new Bishop of Southwell & Nottingham - who officially took up his role this weekend.

More than 1,200 visitors attended the installationservice at Southwell Minster for the Rt Revd Paul Butler at 3pm on Saturday 27th February 2010.

The service was packed with symbolism and dramatic moments, including the Bishop's arrival when he knocked on the huge West doors of the cathedral to be welcomed in by the Dean of Southwell. Bishop Paul was welcomed with a chorus of children’s voices, who lined the aisle of the cathedral with colourful flags as he walked in. Later in the service the Bishop was placed in his own chair or ‘cathedra’, symbolising his role as teacher and towards the end of the service he was  handed the ancient diocesan pastoral staff - made from a narwhal’s (arctic whale) tusk for the very first Bishop of Southwell. This crosier, or Bishop’s crook, is a symbol of his role as leader and pastor of Christ’s flock in this area.

Giving his first sermon as Bishop, he said, “It is now my enormous honour and privilege to be called to lead the Diocese of Southwell and Nottingham forward into the next phase of its history. Like the first bishop of the Diocese, George Ridding, I have made the journey from Winchester to Southwell. Though, he travelled from Winchester College to Southwell, unlike George Ridding, I do have a house ready to live!”

He went on to say, “The consecration service for a bishop contains a lot of demanding words; but the phrase that I have found the most awesome is that which says a bishop is ‘to know his people and be known by them.’ ( and one day know her people as well!).This was echoed in the Situations Vacant page of the Vacancy in See document, by asking for a bishop who will ‘be amongst all the people of the diocese, to know them and be known by them and to love and pastor them’.”

“It is clear to me that the only way for this to become real is to meet with, listen to, talk with, observe and do things together. So I anticipate being out and about in all the kinds of communities to be found across this county, and within the city. I look forward to meeting all sorts of people from every walk of life, and of all ages. You will find me in the coming months and years in the schools, colleges, universities, hospitals, prisons, work-places, sports arenas and fields, care homes, shops, market-places, farms and other places you might name as well as church buildings. “
Children were an important part of the installation service and took part in prayers during the service. Music was led by a whole range of musicians, including all three Minster choirs -   the Cathderal Choir, The Minster Girl’s Choir and the Minster Chorale, along with contributions from musicians and singers from the Minster School and members of the band from St John’s Church, Mansfield.

African singers also joined in the celebration led by a Kenyan priest from Lenton in Nottingham, when the cathedral was ringing with rhythmic sounds in Swahili, while the Bishop greeted representatives from around the diocese and the county. New colleagues and friends from around the area were joined by Bishop Paul’s former colleagues and friends from Winchester Diocese and other parts of the country where he has worked.

After the service the Bishop met some of the many guests and parish representatives over tea in the Minster School.
Although representatives from each parish attended the service, there are two further opportunities for people to join in welcoming the new Bishop at the two welcome services in March. The first will be at St Mary’s, Nottingham on Sunday 7th March and the second will be at Worksop Priory on Sunday 14th March - both services will start at 4pm and all are welcome. The services will both be followed by refreshments for all.

“There was a significant and wonderful engagement with children and young people in the service representing Bishop Paul’s extensive work with this age group. There was a also a wide range of music with a fine mixture of good traditional hymns and good modern songs in a range of style. One parish’s involvement in the service included singing in Swahili from a number of its parishioners who were originally from Kenya