North West triple Bishop making service

On Friday 25 April 2008 at 11am three new North West Bishops will be consecrated in York Minster. The Bishop of Sodor and Man, the Bishop of Bolton and the Bishop of Middleton will be consecrated by the Archbishop of York, the Most Revd and Rt Hon Dr John Sentamu, in York Minster.

The Revd Canon Robert Paterson, currently Chaplain to Dr John Sentamu, Archbishop of York, is to be consecrated as the new Bishop of Sodor and Man. He will succeed the Right Revd Graeme Knowles. The Revd Chris Edmondson is to be consecrated as the new Suffragan Bishop of Bolton, he will succeed the Right Revd David Gillett. The Venerable Mark Davies is to be consecrated as the new Suffragan Bishop of Middleton, he will succeed the Right Revd Michael Lewis.

The Revd Canon Robert Paterson trained at St John's College and Cranmer Hall, Durham. He was a curate at Harpurhey, Manchester and then at Sketty in the Diocese of Swansea and Brecon. He then became rector of two rural parishes between 1978 and 1983. He then became Vicar of Gabalfa, then moving to be team rector of Cowbridge. Between 2000 and 2006 he was Principal Officer of the Church in Wales Council for Mission and Ministry. Since 2002 he has been Vice Chair of the Anglican Primates' working group on theological education. In 2004 he was made a Canon of the Province of Wales and was appointed Chaplain and researcher to the Archbishop of York in 2006.

The Revd Chris Edmondson, 57 has been Warden of Lee Abbey, a Christian Community and Conference Centre in Devon since 2002. He trained at St John's College and Cranmer Hall, Durham. He was curate of Kirkheaton, Huddersfield; Vicar of St George, Ovenden and later Priest in Charge of Bampton with Mardale in Carlisle. He spent over ten years as Bishop's Advisor on Evangelism in Wakefield and then Vicar of St Peter's, Shipley before becoming Warden of Lee Abbey. Warden of Lee Abbey.

The Venerable Mark Davies, 45, will become the Church of England's youngest bishop. He trained at The College of the Resurrection, Mirfield. Mark was curate in St Mary, Barnsley, then Priest in Charge of St Paul's, Barnsley. He was Rector of Hemsworth, has been a Diocesan Vocations Advisor and assistant Director of Ordinands. He was Rural Dean of Pontefract and was made an honorary canon of Wakefield Cathedral in 2002. He then became Archdeacon of Rochdale in 2006.

In order to prepare for the service the Minster will be closed to the public throughout the morning and will re-open to visitors at approximately 3.00pm. Those attending the 7.30am and 7.45am services should enter via the Chapter House Yard.