CATHEDRAL HISTORY
CATHEDRAL HISTORY – A PICTORIAL RECORD
The Reception and Installation of Archbishop Cormac Murphy-O’Connor as Tenth Archbishop of Westminster
Paul Tobin Some nine months after the death of Cardinal George Basil Hume in 1999, the Installation of his successor took place on Tuesday and Wednesday 21/22 March of the new Millennium, with warm sunshine on the Wednesday for the Mass. Every installation since that of Archbishop William Godfrey in 1957 has been televised and this event continued the tradition. What made these rites unusual was that on the Tuesday evening a ‘Reception and Celebration of the Word of God’ took place, at which the Archbishopelect took canonical possession of the See of Westminster with the reading of the Apostolic Letter confirming his appointment. At the West Door, Archbishop-elect Murphy-O’Connor was met by the Provost (Mgr Canon Frederick Miles) together with the Canons of the Cathedral Chapter (who act as the College of Consultors), the Auxiliary Bishops and Episcopal 22
Archbishop Cormac greets well-wishers after Mass
Vicars. A short ‘Service of Light’ was held here, during which the opening verses of the Gospel according to St John were proclaimed. The Archbishop-elect carried the Book of the Gospels in procession through the nave, which was bathed in the light from the candles held by all present. On arrival in the sanctuary, the Book of the Gospels was placed on a stand and incensed. During the interregnum, Bishop Vincent Nichols had acted as Diocesan Administrator and it was his responsibility to request that the Apostolic Letter confirming the appointment of the Archbishop-elect be read by the Chancellor of the diocese, Fr (now Canon) Daniel Cronin. Following this, representatives of the clergy, Religious and laity individually welcomed the new archbishop. The celebration of the Word of Lord then continued. The fine weather next day allowed the long procession of clergy from both Westminster and Arundel & Brighton
Oremus
March 2020
