Diocese of York / News & events / News

Two thousand people, including sixty bishops from across the globe, gathered at York Minster on Friday 3rd July for the Consecration of the Rt Revd Alison White as Bishop of Hull.

The Bishops attending the service included the Rt Revd Ingeborg Midttømme (Bishop of Møre in Norway) the Rt Revd Garth Counsell (Bishop of Table Bay in our twin Diocese of Cape Town) the Rt Revd Helen-Ann Hartley (Bishop of Wiakato in New Zealand), and the Rt Revd Terence Drainey,(Roman Catholic Bishop of Middlesbrough).

Also attending the service were children from Broomhaugh C of E First School in Riding Mill, where Alison was vicar, and students from Archbishop Sentamu Academy.

Speaking before the service, the Very Revd Vivienne Faull, Dean of York, said this was “a day of celebration for the Northern Province”. This was especially the case for the Diocese of York as we not only welcomed Bishop Alison to the Diocese, but also marked the first anniversary of the consecrations of Bishops Paul and John!

Alison was presented for consecration by the Bishop of Worcester, the Rt Revd John Inge, and the recently retired Bishop of Newcastle, the Rt Revd Martin Wharton. The Bishop of Ripon, the Rt Revd James Bell, preached the sermon.

During the service, a one minute’s silence was held at noon for the victims of the attack in Tunisia.

At the end of the service, Alison was presented with her pastoral staff, made with a traditional Northumbrian ram’s horn by Neville Straker of Amble.

Speaking about the service, the Revd Maggie Jeavons, Vicar of Sutton in Holderness said, “The consecration was amazing, fantastic, actually really moving. When I think about Alison joining us in the Hull, I just think Alleluia!”

The Rt Revd Paul Ferguson, Bishop of Whitby said, “It’s a marvellous day, so great we have Alison joining us as a Bishop in the Diocese of York. She’s somebody who’s got an immense amount of wisdom and wonderful godliness. There are so many people around the country whose lives have been touched by Alison and her ministry, and it’s fantastic to see them all here at the Minster.”

Canon Richard Liversedge of St Columba’s, Drypool, said, “We really welcome Alison’s appointment, and look forward to a new chapter in the life of the church in Hull and the East Riding, led by an exciting appointment.”

There's more photos from the service on our Flickr page here. All photos: Duncan Lomax, Ravage Productions.