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Welcome for Sheffield's new Bishop - PICTURES
SHEFFIELD gave a warm Yorkshire welcome to its new Bishop when he officially started his public role with a huge city centre service.
Dr Steven Croft was ordained bishop by the Archbishop of York in January and has been preparing for his ministry in Sheffield ever since.
But he only began his new job as Bishop of Sheffield in the city's cathedral on Saturday during a service which included the solemn handing over of the pastoral staff left by Bishop Jack Nicholls who retired last year.
The event included special music and readings, as well as the chance to hear Dr Croft preach his first sermon as Bishop and bless the city.
The bishop laid down a challenge to his new Diocese asking: "What kind of church are we called to be in 2009? How are we to serve the 1.2 million people who live in this diocese? We have a presence in every single community. We minister in every part of our society. We have the chance to be salt and light in every place. What kind of church are we called to be?"
And in a rallying call, he urged: "I hope and pray that every person in this wonderful cathedral and every person who hears and reads these words will be drawn to share in some way in God's mission to bring hope and healing and health and salvation to the communities we serve."
Every parish was invited to send representatives to the ticket-only event and witness the new Bishop being installed by the Dean of Sheffield Peter Bradley.
The Bishop also used the occasion to unveil his new robes which will be worn on all major occasions and have been specially designed.
A body-length gown is worn over the shoulders, a stole is worn around the neck as a reminder that he bears the yoke of Jesus in his ministry and the mitre is the headgear designating the authority bestowed on him by the church.
Bishop Croft said: "I wanted a design which draws on Christian imagery and yet is contemporary in feel and style and reflects something of the life and colour of the gospel.
"The basic colour of the cope is as close to steel-grey as we could get, reflecting the traditional industries of Sheffield. I also chose as my episcopal ring a plain ring of tungsten steel."
Bishop Croft will lead three welcome services, including commissioning church wardens, this week. They start at 7.30pm and will take place in Sheffield Cathedral on Tuesday, Doncaster Minster on Wednesday and Rotherham Minster on Thursday.
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Weather for Sheffield
Wednesday 08 February 2012
Today
Sunny
Temperature: -4 C to 0 C
Wind Speed: 9 mph
Wind direction: South east
Tomorrow
Light sleet showers
Temperature: -0 C to 2 C
Wind Speed: 9 mph
Wind direction: South west
