Bishops to meet the Queen

The Bishop of Manchester, the Rt Rev. David Walker

The meeting has ancient roots and is part of the process of taking office for the Bishops of Manchester and Blackburn.

The Bishop of Manchester, the Rt Rev. David Walker, will be paying homage just before his inauguration at Manchester Cathedral on 30 November.

Lancashire’s Bishop, Rt Rev. Julian Henderson, The Bishop of Blackburn, was inaugurated on 19 October at Blackburn Cathedral.

The two Bishops will meet the Queen individually in the Throne Room of Buckingham Palace; reflecting the importance of the occasion.

The act of paying homage is an ancient rite dating back to Medieval times. Since the time of the Reformation it has required the new bishop to take an oath that the Sovereign is the only Supreme Governor of the Church of England.

The meetings are usually private but cameras were allowed in when the new Archbishop of Canterbury paid homage earlier this year.

During the brief ceremony the Bishop makes an oath, acknowledging The Queen to be Supreme Governor of the Church of England.

The Bishops will be met in an ante-chamber by the Clerk of the Closet (Rt Rev. Christopher Hill, The Bishop of Guildford) and by the Lord Chancellor (The Rt Hon Chris Grayling MP), who administers the oath of allegiance.

The Bishops are then presented to The Queen by the Master of the Household and kneel before The Queen; each will place their hands together; then the Queen places her hands outside theirs, while they make the oath.

After each formal ceremony there will be a private conversation between The Queen and each new Bishop, in the presence of the Clerk of the Closet and the Lord Chancellor.

Both Bishops are looking forward to pledging their allegiance to The Queen.

Bishop David said: “This is a very special day for me. Paying homage to Her Majesty serves as a clear reminder as a bishop that I am appointed to serve all of the people who live in that part of her realm that forms the Diocese of Manchester.

“Please pray that God will strengthen me for this sacred duty.”

Bishop Julian said: “It was a very great honour to be received personally by Her Majesty the Queen and to pay homage to her as supreme Governor of the Church of England on my appointment as Bishop of Blackburn.

“This means I undertook to be a loyal subject and citizen as well as a faithful minister of the church. Her Majesty continues to set an example of Christian service and faithfulness which is an inspiration to the nation. I pray that I may be faithful to her and to Him who is the King of Kings, Jesus Christ.”