Door knock marks Bishop of Durham's installation
Door knock marks Bishop of Durham's installation
Mon, June 8, 2026 at 7:42 AM UTC
0
The new Bishop of Durham gained admittance by knocking on the cathedral's north door
A special service at Durham Cathedral has been held to mark the installation of the new Bishop of Durham.
The Venerable Rick Simpson was consecrated at York Minster in April after he was approved for the role by King Charles III in February.
Sunday's service brought together civic leaders, local politicians and representatives from churches across the Diocese of Durham which covers an area of north-east England from Gateshead to Stockton.
The new incumbent knocked on the north door of the cathedral and was formally welcomed inside where he made a Declaration of Ascent before being installed in his official seat.
Local dignitaries, civic leaders and church representatives attended the service
The new Bishop holds the fourth most senior position in the Church of England and gets a seat in the House of Lords.
Advertisement
At the service he vowed to serve the diocese but warned: "The church not handling power well and its leaders forgetting humility remain massive issues we have to remedy.
"I am here to try to bring love and encouragement to our local churches, schools and all places where Christians are trying to help people know they are loved by God and, in fact, just all places in the Diocese if I can."
He said about 1,100 people attended the service which also included hymns and readings.
Simpson replaced the Right Reverend Paul Butler who retired in February 2024.
The long search for a replacement had previously seen an unnamed individual withdraw unexpectedly.
Follow BBC North East on X, Facebook, Nextdoor and Instagram.
New Bishop of Durham named after long search
Related internet links -
Diocese of Durham
Source: “AOL Entertainment”
