New Bishop of Exeter enthroned at city's cathedral

Bishop Harrison said he wanted his Enthronement Day to be about the whole of Devon, its churches and communities

The Right Reverend Dr Mike Harrison has been enthroned as the 72nd Bishop of Exeter.

The service took place on All Souls Day at Exeter Cathedral on Saturday.

During the service Bishop Harrison was anointed with oil, seated on the medieval bishop’s throne and presented with the Exeter crozier, which is passed on from bishop to bishop.

Bishop Harrison said he wanted his Enthronement Day to be about the whole of Devon, its churches and communities "in all their diversity".

At the end of the enthronement service, the bishop walked out onto Cathedral Green and said a prayer of blessing for the people of the city of Exeter and county of Devon.

During the day he also took part in a number of activities across the county, including a stop at the White Eagles Hockey Club at Tiverton Leisure Centre.

He was put through his paces on the pitch by the under 10s players and met 74-year-old Debbie Gorrod, who is flying to New Zealand to represent England at the World Masters Cup.

He said: "It’s great to see this intergenerational activity, it really acts as social glue for the community.

"These kinds of sports clubs are really important for the fabric of local life."