Hundreds welcome Bishop Dorrien at his enthronement
Bishop Dorrien's enthonement service is now available to watch, both in full and key moments. Click on the following links:
Presentation of the symbols of office
More than 700 people packed into St Davids Cathedral today (Feb 3) to welcome the new Bishop of St Davids at his enthronement service.
In his inaugural sermon, Bishop Dorrien Davies recalled his first ever visit to the cathedral aged eight. “Little did I imagine that [one day] I would come here as Bishop,” he said.
“Today means so much, a reflection and evaluation of the past, and an anticipation of what the future may bring.....
“As I entered the cathedral today, I was welcomed as one who is called to serve....I consecrate myself to God today, I pledge myself to you, I promise to serve you in love, and commit this diocese in the name of Christ to bring hope to the despairing, safety to the frightened, reassurance to the outcast, healing to the broken, a sense of belonging to those who feel dejected and undervalued, support to the strong, and the Gospel of Life to the dying.”
The service began with Bishop Dorrien approaching the West Door of the cathedral and knocking three times, to be admitted by the Dean and Chapter, to whom his Mandate was presented.
The Bishop then received items symbolising aspects of his ministry:
- a ring (see Note 1), signifying both authority and his promise of fidelity to church and people;
- a cope, or cloak (see Note 2), which has come to signify participation of the worship of the church;
- a mitre, the distinctive headwear, which is seen as symbolic of the tongues of fire of the Holy Spirit that rested on the heads of the apostles on the first day of Pentecost;
- a crozier, or pastoral staff, like a shepherd’s crook, reflecting Christ’s example as the Good Shepherd
The Bishop was led to the Episcopal Throne in the Quire and ceremonially installed by the Dean of St Davids, Dr Sarah Rowland Jones. On his return to the Nave, the formalities complete, he was presented to the congregation which included dignitaries and representatives from across the diocese, the Lord Lieutenant of Dyfed, the High Sheriff of Dyfed and the Mayor of St Davids.
During the service the choir sang an anthem by Bishop Dorrien, set to music by the acclaimed Welsh composer, Meirion Wynn Jones. There were also two new works by Mr Jones, commissioned for the service by the Friends of St Davids Cathedral - the Bishop’s Fanfare and the Episcopal March.
At the end of the service, Bishop Dorrien gave a blessing on the City of St Davids and the Diocese from outside the West Door.
Bishop Dorrien's enthronement followed his consecration in St Deiniol's Cathedral in Bangor a week earlier by the Archbishop of Wales, Andrew John, at which he was presented with his Mandate, which allows him to assume the office of Bishop.
Bishop Dorrien was elected in October as the 130th Bishop of St Davids, the diocese which covers the three West Wales counties of Carmarthenshire, Ceredigion and Pembrokeshire.
Read Bishop Dorrien’s biography here
Listen to Bishop Dorrien's interview on BBC Radio Wales' All Things Considered, broadcast on February 4
Notes:
- The seal ring engraved with the Diocesan crest, and the jewelled crozier, which has images of Christ, St Andrew and St David, were also used by Bishop Basil Jones (1874-1897) and were gifts to him.
- The Diocesan Cope and Mitre were those of Bishop David Prosser (1920-1950), who went on to become the third Archbishop of Wales. The cope bears the Diocesan crest, and the mitre is the ‘precious’ mitre which is decorated with semi-precious stones.
Thanks to PRW Photography for the photos - see more on our Facebook page
