Alison White consecrated Bishop of Hull
In a service today (the feast of Thomas the Apostle) in York Minister, Alison White was consecrated bishop by the Archbishop of York to serve as suffragan bishop of Hull in the diocese of York. She is the second female bishop to be consecrated, after Libby Lane, suffragan bishop of Stockport.
York diocese has this report Bishop Alison’s Consecration:
Two thousand people, including sixty bishops from across the globe, gathered at York Minster on Friday 3rd June [Ed: actually 3rd July] for the Consecration of the Rt Revd Alison White as Bishop of Hull.
The Bishops attending the service included the Rt Revd Ingeborg Midttømme (Bishop of Møre in Norway) the Rt Revd Garth Counsell (Bishop of Table Bay in our twin Diocese of Cape Town) the Rt Revd Helen-Ann Hartley (Bishop of Waikato in New Zealand), and the Rt Revd Terence Drainey (Roman Catholic Bishop of Middlesbrough).
Also attending the service were children from Broomhaugh C of E First School in Riding Mill, where Alison was vicar, and students from Archbishop Sentamu Academy.
Speaking before the service, the Very Revd Vivienne Faull, Dean of York, said this was “a day of celebration for the Northern Province”. This was especially the case for the Diocese of York as we not only welcomed Bishop Alison to the Diocese, but also marked the first anniversary of the consecrations of Bishops Paul and John!
Alison was presented for consecration by the Bishop of Worcester, the Rt Revd John Inge, and the recently retired Bishop of Newcastle, the Rt Revd Martin Wharton. The Bishop of Ripon, the Rt Revd James Bell, preached the sermon.
During the service, a one minute’s service [Ed: silence] was held at noon for the victims of the attack in Tunisia.
At the end of the service, Alison was presented with her pastoral staff, made with a traditional Northumbrian ram’s horn by Neville Straker of Amble.
There are more pictures on Flickr.
BBC news has Second woman bishop Alison White consecrated.
Me thinks that “a one minute’s service” needs to be changed to “silence” as I’m sure that the consecration took much longer than a mere 60 seconds?
The typo is in the original. I’ve added an editorial ‘sic’.
The Roman Catholic Bishop of Middlesborough was present? I seem to recall this was not the case at Bishop Libby’s consecration – quite a step if so.
I welcome this appointment, but have to ask is it the best use of the limited time of 60 Bishops to be at one service when they so often have little time to visit parishes and see clergy? Also the expense could be better used. Do they also need to stand blocking everyone else’s view?!
Stockport is in the Catholic Diocese of Shrewsbury and the bishop there is a very sound Catholic..Opus Dei.
I wish the Flickr photos would identify who is who. I only recognize +Ebor and +Lane
This report repeats the error from the Diocese of York’s report that the consecration was on Friday 3rd of June. The 3rd of June was a Wednesday.
The consecration took place on Friday 3rd July, as the BBC news report confirms http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-humber-33376789
[Ed: thanks – corrected editorially]
And it’s Waikato – not as spelt in the press release.
I witnessed the consecration of Alison White at York Minster July 3rd 2015….
The real presence of Christ shone through. He was at the centre and no other. Alison White stood sure and steadfast, a pilgrim of God, ready to recommit her life willingly to His higher calling, aware of the rocky ascent before her yet
holding within a tangible peace and dignity which
was inspirational….So refreshing!