To be held at Winchester Cathedral on Saturday 13 th January 2024, the service will be the formal ceremonial occasion at which the new bishop takes up his office, an historic and important event in the life of the city and the diocese.
The service will begin at the ancient church of St Lawrence in the city centre, where Bishop Philip will make the necessary oaths and declarations. He will then be met in The Square by the Mayor of Winchester, the Chief Executive of Winchester City Council, the Roman Catholic Bishop of Portsmouth, and the Headteacher and a pupil representative from The Bishop of Winchester Academy in Bournemouth. Together they will process slowly and prayerfully to Winchester Cathedral.
According to tradition, Bishop Philip will then knock on the West Doors of the Cathedral and be greeted by a child who asks the question ‘Why have you been sent to us?’, to which he replies, ‘I come as one sent as Bishop to serve you.’
The themes of love, humility and service will continue throughout, in the carefully curated prayers, oaths and in the beautiful selection of music, including the anthem ‘Love Bade me Welcome’ (a setting of George Herbert’s poem by English composer Ralph Vaughan Williams), chosen by Bishop Philip himself and sung by Cathedral Choir and the Junior Choir.
The involvement of children will be central to the proceedings, including performances from school choirs and the presenting of the crozier (hooked staff) by a child.
Other symbolic ceremonial acts during the service include the ‘installing’ of the bishop into his ‘cathedra’ (throne), anointing the new bishop with holy oil, and a final act of blessing which takes place outside the cathedral when the bishop will pray for the city of Winchester and the whole diocese.
Bishop Philip will also preach the sermon, his first public address since he legally became Bishop of Winchester and an opportunity for him to express his hopes and priorities for his leadership.
The Cathedral and diocese are also delighted to be welcoming some special visitors at the service, including Archbishop Angaelos, Coptic Orthodox Archbishop of London, and other friends from the Anglican Communion overseas, including the Bishop of Rumonge in Burundi, and the Bishop of Karongi in Rwanda.
The service is a ticketed event only but all the proceedings, including the procession from St Lawrence Church, can be watched on the Cathedral Livestream Channel.
