On Saturday, March 1st, 2014, St David's Day, Melissa M.Skelton was ordained Bishop in the Church of God in the daffodil decorated East Exhibition Hall C of the Vancouver Convention Centre.
More than 1400 attended the two hour Ordination Eucharist service which included a sermon preached by the Right Reverend Greg Rickel, the Bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Olympia; inspiring music under the direction of Brigid Coult of St. Mary's, Kerrisdale and Rupert Lang of Christ Church Cathedral and beautiful liturgical decorations consisiting of banners designed and constructed by Thomas Roach, assisted by Sheila Wex and Janet MacKinnon.
Following the Eucharist, presided over by the Primate of the Anglican Church of Canada, Archbishop Fred Hiltz, the majority of the congregation of Clergy, Lay and Ecumenical and Multi-Faith guests processed south on Burrard street to Christ Church Cathedral where Bishop Melissa was installed as the 9th Bishop of New Westminster. A feature of the Installation was the handing over of the Crosier of the Diocese of New Westminster (Pastoral Staff) by former Bishop, the Right Reverend Michael Ingham to Bishop Melissa.
More coverage of the event will be coming up on the diocesan website soon. Stay tuned.
Images: Bishop Melissa acknowledges the warm welcome of sustained applause seconds after Archbishop John Privett said "I present Melissa, bishop in the church of God."In the background the Right Reverend Barbara Andrews of the Anglican Parishes of the Central Interior.
PHOTO: Randy Murray