New Bishop a step closer
The Archbishop of Canterbury and the new Bishop of St Albans, flanked by the Bishops of Bedford (l) and Hertford (r)
In a legal and liturgical ceremony that has been part of church practice since the third century, the Rt Revd Alan Smith received the care, government and administration of the bishopric of St Albans on 31st March.
The Confirmation of Election, as it is known follows the Election of the Bishop by the College of Canons of the Cathedral which took place on 13th February.These two ceremonies historically reflect the acceptance of an Episcopal appointment by the diocese and the wider church.
Although an ancient ceremony, the wording used in the confirmation has been gradually modernised. The service ends with the Archbishop of Canterbury giving the new Bishop his charge for the Diocese and in this respect the ceremony is entirely contemporary.
In his address the Archbishop referred to pastoral ministry as being and “eye opening matter. It is a matter not only of holding up to people a vision of where they are going but also a vision of who they are. He connected the role of a bishop to seeing and speaking the truth about God and those who the bishop serves. He concluded: “Keep your eyes open. look to God who has called you. Look to Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of your faith. Look so that you may see all things as they are, and all people as they are, seeing them with a justice, a generosity and the imagination with which God sees them.”
Bishop Alan's inauguration will take place on 19th September 2009.
