Bishop John consecrated at Bangor Cathedral

The new Bishop of Swansea and Brecon, John Lomas, and the Assistant Bishop in Bangor, Mary Stallard, were consecrated in a service at St Deiniol’s Cathedral in Bangor on Saturday..

The service was led by the Archbishop of Wales, Andrew John, who is also the Bishop of Bangor. The new bishops were led into the Cathedral by a long procession which included representatives from all of the dioceses and cathedrals of Wales. During the service, the new bishops were 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 were consecrated by the Archbishop and other serving and retired bishops. An address was given by the Archdeacon of Anglesey, Andrew Herrick.

New music, composed for the occasion, was performed for the first time at the service. The choir of Saint Deiniol’s Cathedral sang 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, was sung at a high point in the service, immediately before the two new bishops were ordained.

The service was the first consecration in the Church in Wales to be live-streamed and the recording can be seen at:

https://www.churchinwales.org.uk/en/about-us/bishops/ordination-and-consecration-service/

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.