New Bishop installed
13:59, 13 December 2010
The Rt Rev James Langstaff has been installed as the 107th Bishop of Rochester.
The service at Rochester Cathedral on Saturday was attended by 1,200 guests.
In keeping with tradition, he had to knock on the doors of the cathedral to gain admission before the service began.
Bishop James was anointed by the Bishop of Tonbridge, Dr Brian Castle, together with the former Bishop of Doncaster, Michael Gear, and the Bishop of the Armed Forces, Stephen Venner, before giving his first sermon in which he said he was looking forward to getting to know people in the community.
Bishop James said he has been overwhelmed by the welcome he has received and added: “It’s been tremendous.”
The father of two has been Suffragan Bishop of Lynn in the diocese of Norwich since June 2004. For the previous 18 years, he was a parish vicar in the diocese of Birmingham.