THE 15th Bishop of Truro, the Rt Revd Tim Thornton, was welcomed to his new Diocese on Saturday March 7 in a ceremony in Truro Cathedral, filled with history, colour, and Cornish words, music and symbols.

Almost all of Cornwall's 225 parishes were represented by their churchwardens and clergy in the cathedral ceremony which started with colourful processions, including about 400 clergy and Readers, followed by leaders of Cornwall County Council and Cornwall's District Councils, which will disappear with the coming of the new unitary authority.

Mayors of 21 Cornish Towns and the Portreeve of Callington, processed with the Grand Bard of the Cornish Gorseth, Deputy Lieutenants and the High Sheriff. There was a strong contingent from the Naval and Air bases in the region.

Fifteen Bishops, many in their scarlet Convocation robes, led by the Bishop of Salisbury, walked in procession with Bishop Hans-Eric of Strangnas in Sweden, one of Truro's link Dioceses. There was strong representation from all the Christian denominations working in the south west, and Lady Mary Holborow, Her Majesty's Lord Lieutenant, was also present.

Bishop Tim entered the cathedral in a simple white robe and was escorted through the packed congregation by children from church schools, who carried paintings of Corn­wall's landscape, people, needs and hopes.

After prayers from the Bishop of St Germans, the South West Bishops, led by the Bishop of Salisbury (Bishop Tim's former Diocese) anointed him on the hands, and forehead reminding him of his baptism and ordination as deacon, priest and bishop.

Bishop Tim was next clothed by the members of the Cathedral Chapter with his robes, stole, cope and mitre and he was also given the pectoral cross of Archbishop Benson, appointed the first Bishop of Truro in 1877, and subsequently Archbishop of Canterbury.

Following readings by Diocesan Secretary, Sheri Sturgess, and Canon Andrew Wilson of Calstock, the Bishop was escorted to the cathedral, or Bishop's seat in the Choir and placed in it by the Archdeacon of Canterbury, and blessed by the Bishop of Salisbury. The Dean, Dr Christopher Hardwick, presented him with Benson's pastoral staff, and following this, the Dean presented the Bishop to the congregation who applauded long and loud.

Prayers were offered for the Bishop's ministry by leaders of the other Christian denominations, and greetings were offered from the Church in Umzimvubu, the African partner Diocese. Then the Bishop of Strangnas, in Sweden, invited the congregation, in Swedish, to share the peace. The new Bishop and the entire congregation exchanged warm greetings before the Bishop's first sermon in to his new Diocese.

Bishop Tim's theme was straightforward and very direct. "We live in troubled times" he said, "but the message of Christ is clear – do not be afraid."

He said that the churches must break out of what can sometimes become a kind of ghetto mentality and added: "It is time that we rediscovered the joy of our faith."

The Bishop, who warmly thanked all those involved in ministry in the parishes in Cornwall, also said, to

spontaneous applause, that the church needed to stop talking about action, and instead to act.

"One of the key words in the Gospels means 'now', but the Christian Churches are not good at doing 'now'. We just talk about setting up committees, considering all the options, writing a report, thinking carefully and then, possibly — but probably not — just putting it on the agenda for another

meeting!"

Following the service, which included outstanding singing from the Cathedral Choir, and much music, prayer, and hymns written by Cornish men, the Bishop, escorted by children bearing objects symbolic of Cornwall past and present — including a miner's lamp, daffodils, a lobster pot, a surf board, the Cornish

tartan — walked in procession through the city to the Methodist Church where a live link to the cathedral

service had been provided for around 400 people who could not be fitted into the cathedral.

It says much for the new Bishop's easy manner, that it took him nearly three quarters of an hour to return to the cathedral, so many were the people in the streets to whom he wanted to talk.

The new Bishop, who is 52, was well received wherever he went. As one churchwarden remarked: "Everyone knew Bishop Bill would be a hard act to follow — but we've got just the right one in Bishop Tim. He calls a spade a spade, he's young — and he's interested in people. Just what the Church needs today!"

In the next six weeks, Bishop Tim will be visiting all the 12 Deanery areas in a series of programmes arranged by local Rural Deans so that he gets to know more of the geography of the Diocese, and particular places and people within it. Each visit will include an opportunity for the general public to meet the Bishop.