The art of Christmas
Taking stock of chaplaincy
Unravelling the images of the nativity
Bringing God to the race circuit
page 11
page 12
No 33 Christmas 2011 FREE Diocese of Lincoln newspaper www.lincoln.anglican.org
crosslincs
The Bishop takes the opportunity to talk to children from Monks Abbey Primary School in Lincoln prior to his enthronement.
Bishop takes his seat Edward Joyner he 72nd Bishop of Lincoln, the Rt Revd Christopher Lowson, has taken his seat in Lincoln Cathedral, marking formally the beginning of his ministry in the Diocese of Lincoln. Having paid homage to the Queen, and been ordained and consecrated by the Archbishop of Canterbury and other bishops at Westminster Abbey, the Bishop was able to be enthroned in the Cathedral. Spectacular music and ceremony accompanied the enthronement, which was attended by around 2,400 people, and the service began with a long procession of representatives from the Church and community. According to a centuries-old tradition –
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said to date from the time of St Benedict – the new Bishop knocked on the Cathedral’s West Door three times with his crozier before being welcomed to the Cathedral by the Dean. The Archdeacon of Canterbury, who represents the Archbishop of Canterbury at enthronement services, placed the new Bishop in his seat in the Cathedral – the Bishop’s throne, or “cathedra”, from which a cathedral takes its name. As well as being a celebration, there is a legal side to an enthronement service, and the Bishop was required to make oaths in accordance with Church law and the statutes of the Diocese and the Cathedral. “This is a momentous step in my ministry and a very important occasion for me”, said the Bishop.
“It is an honour and a challenge to serve as a bishop and I am looking forward to it immensely.” Local businesses were quick to offer their support by providing lunch for the 2,400 people who attended the service. “It’s fantastic to have leading local and socially-conscious businesses and organisations supporting the Bishop’s enthronement,” said Max Manin, Chief Executive of the Diocese. “Bishop Grosseteste University College, Lincolnshire Co-operative, A W Curtis of Lincoln, Lincolnshire Poacher Cheese, The Meaningful Chocolate Company and Pipers Crisps all contributed to the lunch. “It was a celebration for all of Lincolnshire to enjoy”, he said. > More photographs on page 10
PHOTOGRAPH: ANTONY KELLY
Women bishops vote Lincoln’s Diocesan Synod voted overwhelmingly in favour of proposed legislation to enable women to be ordained to the episcopate. News, page 3
Chaplaincy debated A proposal to review the Diocese’s £250,000 contribution to the organisation which provides workplace and educational chaplaincy is debated on the letters pages. Letters, page 8 and 9
Metal thefts anguish The Archdeacon of Lincoln on the case for reforming the scrap metal industry to reduce the number of lead thefts in the Diocese Features, page 15