Large attendance as bishop consecrated

A Bishop's ministry "sits uneasily" at the point of tension "between the internal life of the church" and "the life of the world", one of the largest meetings in Ireland of ordaining bishops was told at the weekend.

Dr Kenneth Stevenson, Bishop of Portsmouth, was giving the sermon at the consecration of the new Church of Ireland Bishop of Cashel and Ossory, the Right Rev Peter Barrett, in Christ Church Cathedral, Dublin, on Saturday.

The occasion was attended by one of the most representative groups of ordaining bishops to take part in an Irish episcopal consecration, with representatives from other Anglican churches, as well as Lutheran and Old Catholic Churches from England, Scotland, Wales, Sweden, Spain and Holland.

It was also attended by the Archbishop of Armagh, Dr Robin Eames.

Ecumenical guests included Cardinal Connell and the Rev Winston Graham, President of the Methodist Conference.

Dr Stevenson said there would be "much to challenge in the future, not least for the people of the diocese that receives its new bishop today.

"All our expectations need to be tempered by careful consideration of who bishops are and what they are for. Anglicans," he went on, "perhaps have had cause to think more about this than many other churches because of our history and the place we have in worldwide Christianity".

He said that as teacher, a bishop of the church was "above all the person who speaks for the church". In this role articulation was "to the fore", said Dr Stevenson. "Not, though, that this means speaking all the time, however tempting that may be."

He said the best way a bishop, in his role as shepherd, could give direction to his flock was "to know them and be known by them".

There was something "essentially personal" about a bishop's ministry "because the office of bishop is relational.

"Bishops are human beings, fragile just like the rest of the world. But above all, bishops have to heed the challenge finally posed by the chief shepherd himself - 'Feed my sheep'. "

The new bishop, the Right Rev Peter Barrett (46), has been Dean of Waterford since 1998. He played a leading part in the restoration of Waterford Cathedral.