A SPECIAL ceremony took place yesterday to welcome the Venerable Gavin Collins as the Bishop of Dorchester.

The Venerable Collins was appointed in November following the retirement of the Rt Rev Colin Fletcher.

The consecration ceremony took place in Lambeth in London, watched by the Bishop’s family and the Bishop of Oxford, Rt Rev Steven Croft.

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Rt Rev Croft said before the ceremony: “We heard that it will no longer be possible to stream the service during the period of national mourning for His Royal Highness the Duke of Edinburgh.

“This will, of course, be disappointing to many across the area who were planning to share in the service virtually and pray for our new bishop.

“Both Gavin and I are thankful that the service can go ahead without further delay.”

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Rt Rev Croft added: “Many of us are already appreciating having Gavin among us, and we look forward enormously to all that God will do in and through his ministry in the coming years.”

In November the Venerable Collins said it had been ‘incredibly frustrating’ for Christians not to be allowed to gather for worship but added that churches have had to follow the law and scientific advice. Following his appointment he visited St Mary’s Church in Chipping Norton where volunteers had been supporting families during lockdown.