On 22 June, the Rt Revd Dr Matthew Porter was consecrated as the Bishop of Bolton at York Minster alongside the Rt Revd Smitha Prasadam, Bishop of Huddersfield and the Rt Revd Anna Eltringham, Bishop of Ripon.

Family, friends, civic leaders and colleagues gathered in the historic setting for the service, led by the Most Revd Stephen Cottrell with a sermon by the Rt Revd Dr David Hamid, Suffragan Bishop in Europe. 

Bishop Matthew was supported by Bishop David, Bishop Mark and clergy from the diocese who took part in the procession of robed clergy. Friends from Matthew's former parish, St Michael le Belfrey - a stone's throw away from the Minster - were also in attendance.

The service reflected the breadth of traditions in the Church, with musicians from The Belfrey performing alongside the Vicars Choral and Choral Scholars, and Philip Moore, Organist Emeritus at York Minster. 

We encourage you to watch the full service here. We have shared some photos on our Flickr account, all images on this account are available to download and include in parish newsletters and magazines. 

This Sunday, 25^th June, there will be a welcome service for Bishop Matthew at Manchester Cathedral at 5.30 pm.  All are welcome to attend without booking. We look forward to seeing you there!

Bishop Matthew reflects on his consecration

"I’m delighted to become the Bishop of Bolton and am looking forward to serving the people of the Diocese of Manchester.

It was a long but rich service of consecration in York Minster, and after hands had been laid on me by many bishops, it was great that the first to congratulate me were the two Manchester bishops: David and Mark.

The pastoral staff - known as a crosier - that I was handed by the Archbishop of York at the end of the service belonged to the first Bishop of Bolton. It’s been lovingly restored by Ravens, expert silversmiths in Sheffield (where I used to live and serve before York). It reminds me not only of my past in Sheffield but also that I continue the work of others, in caring for God’s church and bringing the gospel of Jesus Christ to a new generation."