Bishop Hugh Nelson was officially confirmed as the 114th Bishop of Worcester by the Bishop of London, Dame Sarah Mullally at a special service at St Mary-le-Bow Church in London on Friday.
During the historic ceremony, the Vicar General for the Province of Canterbury decides whether the procedural steps have been carried out so that the election of the new bishop (which took place in Worcester Cathedral by the College of Canons) can be confirmed. At this point, Bishop Hugh legally became the Bishop of Worcester, although he won’t take up his duties in the Diocese until after his service of welcome on 17 January.
The legal process takes the form of a court within a service of worship. Diocesan Registrar, Kirsty Duxbury represented the College of Canons as their ‘Proctor’ and James Dawes KC was chosen by Bishop Hugh as his ‘Advocate’. The Vicar General was Timothy Briden, an Ecclesiastical Judge appointed by the Archbishop of Canterbury.
During the service, Bishop Sarah delivered a ‘charge’ to Bishop Hugh as the new Bishop of Worcester. She began by saying: “You are to be charged with many important tasks and ministries in your vocation as bishop. There will be much for you to consider, great challenges to face, as well as, I pray, great joy along the way. I urge you to remember that your ministry does not depend on you, but on the one who has called and commissioned you. Hold fast to Christ and he will guide you in all things. May the Lord’s grace and blessing be with you at all times.”
Bishop Hugh was supported by friends and family for the ceremony, including a group who had travelled from our diocese to be there. Bishop Martin led the prayers.
After the service, Bishop Hugh said: “In her 'charge' to me Bishop Sarah told me to 'take especially seriously your duty and oath to know and be known by the people of the Diocese. Visit them rather than summoning them. Listen more than you speak. Let them know your very heart and soul, where Christ must reign'
“These words describe the kind of Bishop of Worcester I hope to be, and it is the greatest honour and privilege to be called to live them out amongst you all. I am so looking forward to being with you all from the 17 January.”
All are invited to Bishop Hugh’s service of welcome to the Diocese which will take place in the Cathedral at 2pm on Saturday 17 January.
See more photos from the service on in our Flickr Album:
