At a service in London on Friday 28th March, Bishop David was legally made the Bishop of Truro. The service was held at St Mary le Bow Church, as the historic home of the Arches’ Court of Canterbury (from the time when Canterbury Diocese extended all the way into the city!), and therefore the venue for sittings of the Vicar General’s Court.
At a service attended by family (including his lovely young grandson!), supporters, diocesan staff and lots of friends from our diocese, Bishop David was legally given the spiritual jurisdiction over the diocese of Truro by committing to him ‘the care, government and administration of the spirituals’ of the bishopric.
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It is an unusual service as throughout its duration the Vicar General’s Court is in session at the front of the church, with the lawyers (in their wigs and gowns!) overseeing several stages in the proceedings required by Canon Law, including:
- Reading out a letter from His Majesty the King
- Submitting the necessary evidence to prove that the correct procedures have been followed and that no objections have been made
- The Bishop-Elect taking the oaths of allegiance and obedience
- The reading of a final decree, conferring to the Bishop-Elect spiritual jurisdiction over the diocese.
The service was presided over by the Bishop of London, Rt Revd Sarah Mullally, who delivered the ‘charge’ to Bishop David, reminding him to always remember ‘not who you are but whose you are – your calling not depending on you but on Jesus Christ’.
Then on Sunday 6th April, Bishop David presided over his final parish church service in our diocese, at St Swithun’s, Headbourne Worthy, at which he re-dedicated the church building following its 8-month closure for the complete renovation of the church roofs. It was an occasion to give thanks for the successful completion of the project which had seen every tile, nail, baton and piece felt across all the roofs be replaced, including the rebuilding of the top third of the medieval tower.
The occasion was also an opportunity for the parishes of Heabourne Worthy and Kings Worthy to give Bishop David and Helen a special gift – a ‘Worthy Cross’, a wooden cross specially commissioned by the parishes and made by the master carpenter who rebuilt the Tower.
Revd Paul Bradish, the Rector said, ‘David and Helen have been a unique gift to so many over their years in the diocese, so it’s only appropriate that we give them a unique gift as they depart for Truro, hopefully something they can enjoy for many years to come’.
The base of the cross came from the hexagonal wood that formed part of the old tower cross and the vertical piece was one of the distressed tenon joints from the south west corner of the tower, dating from around 1525.
In addition flowers and wine were given and the congregation, whose gifts had paid for the commissioned work, had the opportunity to applaud them as they left the church at the end of a most joyful service!
Bishop David’s final service in our diocese will be at Winchester Cathedral on Maundy Thursday on 17 April, to which all in the diocese are welcome!
