Consecration of Dr Emma Ineson as Bishop of Penrith

On Wednesday, 27th February, a group of 18 from St Paul’s and other churches in Grange set off on a 19-seater coach (more like a mini-bus) at 7.30am to York for the Consecration of our new Bishop of Penrith, and also of the new Bishop of Jarrow at the Minster.

We arrived at around 10.15am after a beautiful ride through the Yorkshire countryside, via Skipton and Harrogate. We made our way to the Minster to ensure we had good seats. There were a number of familiar faces of clergy in the South Archdeaconry, and the service commenced with an enormous procession of choir, Canons of York Minster and all the visiting, supporting clergy, with Archbishop John Sentamu at the rear and the two Bishops designate.

The service was wonderful, and the singing superb; I have never been to a Consecration service before. The address was given by the Rt Rev Rachel Treweek, Bishop of Gloucester, and the laying on of hands for healing was offered during the Eucharist in a side chapel. However, you did need stamina as we arrived at the Minster around 10.30am and were walking out at the end of the service at 1.15pm! Just time for lunch and a quick look around York, where we kept bumping into people that we knew; then back to our coach for another lovely ride back home for 6.16pm.

All in all, a most enjoyable day – and it was most interesting to see the number of women priests.

Rosemary Hoyle