Bishop Mead's Consecration
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The Gospel is proclaimed
Bishop Damien Mead's Consecration on 20th September 2008 in St Augustine's College Chapel, Westgate on Sea, Kent. The Rev Dom Philip-James French, OSB, who deaconed the Mass, sings the Gospel.
Bishop Starks preached
The Right Revd Rommie Michael Starks, chief Consecrator, and Episcopal Visitor to the Diocese of the United Kingdom, preached.
The Testimonials & Protocols are read
The Revd Raymond Thompson, Parish Priest of Our Lady of Walsingham & St Francis of Assisi, Rochester, Kent, and Diocesan Vice Chancellor representing the Provincial Registrar, reads the Testimonials and Protocols of Bishop Mead's election
Bishop Elect lays prostrate
Bishop Elect Mead lays prostrate during the singing of the ancient hymn "Come Holy Ghost"
The Book of Gospels
The Revd Dom Philip James French, Parish Priest of St Ninian's Church, Whitby, N Yorks (who deaconed the Mass) and The Rev Charles Johnson, Parish Priest of St Alban the Martyr, Salford, Manchester, (who subdeaconed) hold the Book of the Gospels over Bishop Elect Meads head.
The Consecration
The Right Revd Rommie Michael Starks, Bishop Ordinary of the Diocese of the Midwest, USA, Episcopal Visitor to the DUK (Chief Consecrator representing the Archbishop) was assisted by The Right Revd Roger Dawson, Retired Bishop in the Patrimony of the Metropolitan, and The Right Revd Dennis Hodge, Assistant Bishop of the Diocese of Australia and New Zealand.
Anointed with Sacred Chrism
The new Bishop has his head ...
Bishop Meads Hands are Anointed
and hands annointed with the Holy Oil of Chrism.
The new Bishops first blessing
The new Bishop gives his first blessing by tradition, urbi et orbi, to the City and the World.
Taking possession of the Diocese
Bishop Starks seats Bishop Mead in his Faldstool ...
Bishop Mead is enthroned
... and then together with the assisting bishops enthrone Bishop Mead as he formally takes possession of the Diocese of the United Kingdom
The Mass
Bishop Starks, having continued with the Mass, displays the Sacred Host to the congregation
The Communion of the people
The Communion of the people begins
The Choir
We were very pleased to have the Choir of Emmanual Church, Sutton Coldfield, Birmingham singing for us. The 14 strong Choir was conducted by their director Mr Richard Mason and the Organist was Mr Roger Wilcock.
The Procession
Marking the formal end of the Consecration Service the Altar Party left the Church ...
Blessings
Bishop Mead returned to the Sanctuary to give his blessing on those who came forward to reverence the new bishop. Here Bishop Dawson receives a blessing.
Blessings 2
Mrs Marilyn Grainger, a foster carer of disabled children, who works for Credo Care Ltd, the Independent Fostering Agency that Bishop Mead founded in 2000 for disabled children and those with serious medical needs receives her blessing.
Photo opportunity
The Episcopal Altar Party after the Service
The Sanctuary Party
The Bishops, Clergy, and Servers: L-R: The Venerable Joseph DeHart, The Rev Dom Philip-James French, OSB, Bishop Denis Hodge, The Rev Chris Bosworth, Bishop Rommie Starks, Mr Derek Lane (behind with Cross), Mr Richard Mann, Bishop Damien Mead, The Rev Tim Perkins, Bishop Roger Dawson, Mr Barry Capper, The Rev Charles Johnson & The Rev Raymond Thompson.
The Choir, Organist and Piper
The Bishops with the Choir. From the far right: Pipe Major John Spoore RVM, formerly Personal Piper to her Late Majesty Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother. The Organist, Mr Roger Wilcock and fifth from right wearing the green hood, the Choir Director Mr Richard Mason
Bishop Mead's family
Bishop Mead is pictured with his parents, sister and other family members.
Relaxed moment
A relaxed momment: Bishop Mead with Mrs Beryl Fielding, one of his friends who attended the Consecration
The new Bishop
As he poses for photographs Bishop Mead allows himself to relax and you can see in his smile the joy he has on such a wonderful occasion
The reception
A Reception in the Oak Room at St Augustine's College folowed the Consecration with a substantial buffet and refreshments provided.
The Cake
The Cake presented to Bishop Mead at the Reception
A shower of gifts!
Diocesan Secretary Dr Roy Fidge presents Bishop Mead with the gift of a Bugia Candlestick from the Diocese for the use of the Bishops Ordinary.
and still more gifts!
Diocesan Treasurer, Mr Richard Mann, on behalf of the Diocese, presented Bishop Mead with the gift for himself of a small statue of St Peter enthroned.
