The new Bishop of St Davids was consecrated at a special service today.
Hundreds of people from across Wales packed into St Deiniol’s Cathedral in Bangor and watched online as Bishop Dorrien Davies was anointed and received the symbols of the office of a bishop.
Bishop Dorrien’s consecration followed his election in October as the 130th Bishop of St Davids, the diocese which covers the three West Wales counties of Carmarthenshire, Pembrokeshire and Ceredigion.
The service was held in Bangor as that is the seat of the current Archbishop of Wales, Andrew John, who is also the Bishop of Bangor. Bishop Dorrien was anointed with holy oil and presented with the symbols of office: a bishop’s episcopal ring, a pectoral cross, a mitre, a Bible and a pastoral staff.
In his address, Archbishop Andrew urged Bishop Dorrien to craft “an extravagant love” for Jesus, for the Church and for the world. He compared the role of bishops and the church to the BBC reality show, The Traitors. As that show had gripped the nation, so too should they.
“Our task is to capture the imagination of our church and nation afresh,” he said. “Less with dark intrigue, more with exciting curiosity. Less with murky stuff and more with endless possibilities of what life in Christ might offer.” He challenged BishopDorrien to “live, love and lead in such a way that has us on the edge of our seats”.
Bishop Dorrien said, “To be elected the 130th Bishop of St Davids is an honour and a challenge. I look forward to the future, thankful for the prayers, help and support of a great many people. However, the reassurance of God’s guiding love and grace is with me, with hope and joy. I ask for people’s continual prayer as I begin this new chapter in my ministry.”
A new music composition was sung by the choir as the symbols of office were presented to Bishop Dorrien by his fellow Welsh diocesan bishops. Composed by the Cathedral music director, Joe Cooper, it was a setting of a sixteenth century Welsh poem by Dafydd Trefor about the consecration of Deiniol, the first Bishop of Bangor, and his retreat in Pembrokeshire.
Bishops from the other Anglican churches in the UK – the Church of England, the Church of Ireland and the Scottish Episcopal Church – also attended the service.Next weekend, Bishop Dorrien will be enthroned Bishop of St Davids at St Davids Cathedral. He will be installed in the Bishop’s chair and also welcomed by representatives from across St Davids Diocese. The service takes place on February 3, starting at 2.30pm and reporters are welcome to attend.
