Consecration of the Bishop of Sherborne
Friday, 26th June 2009
The Reverend Canon Dr Graham Kings, Vicar of St Mary's Church, Islington, was ordained to the episcopate as the new Suffragan Bishop of Sherborne by the Archbishop of Canterbury and other bishops at a Eucharist in the Abbey on Wednesday 24th June 2009.
The Bishop-designate of Sherborne took the Oath of Allegiance to The Queen’s Majesty and the Oath of Due Obedience to the Archbishop of Canterbury before the service in the Jerusalem Chamber, part of the Abbey’s Deanery.
Dr Kings was presented for ordination by the Bishop of London and the Bishop of Salisbury, in the presence of 50 supporting bishops, 80 clergy, and over 400 guests, family, and friends.
During the Eucharist the sermon was given by Professor David F Ford, Regius Professor of Divinity, University of Cambridge; the service was sung by The Choir of Westminster Abbey, conducted by James O’Donnell, Organist and Master of the Choristers; the organ was played by Robert Quinney, Sub-Organist.
As Bishop of Sherborne Dr Kings, 55, will serve as an Area Bishop in the Diocese of Salisbury assisting the Bishop of Salisbury, Dr David Stancliffe.
The new Bishop of Sherborne will be officially welcomed into the Diocese of Salisbury at a special celebration service in Wimborne Minster on Sunday 5th July at 3.00pm.
The Archbishop of Canterbury holds Consecration Services in St Paul’s and Southwark Cathedrals, St Albans Abbey and Westminster Abbey. Bishops have been consecrated at the Abbey since medieval times.
