Welcome for new area bishop

Rt Revd Christopher Chessun (left) with the Archbishop of Canterbury outside Southwark Cathedral

The Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr Rowan Williams, consecrated the Ven Christopher Chessun as Bishop of Woolwich on Thursday. The Rev John Stroyan was also consecrated at the service as Bishop of Warwick.

Brother Sam SSF, who preached at the service, reminded them that it was St Anselm's Day and that St Anselm shaped his life in looking for the "so much more" that Jesus promised. Brother Sam hoped that the new bishops would make a priority of seeking Jesus' words and that promise of "so much more" in all that they did.

Christopher Chessun will be installed as Bishop of Woolwich and welcomed to his episcopal area at 6.30pm on Sunday 24 April at Southwark Cathedral.

The area bishop of Woolwich in the Diocese of Southwark assists the diocesan bishop in the oversight and pastoral care of parishes in south-east London.

The Southwark portion of SE1 falls within the Woolwich episcopal area. The western (Lambeth) side of SE1 falls under the remit of the area Bishop of Kingston.

Speaking earlier this year, Christopher Chessun recalled his previous experiences of SE1 life: "Thirty years ago on leaving school I filled in the months before going to university working for a firm of solicitors in Borough High Street. A daily task involved carting over boxes of papers to file away in a cellar depository under Borough Market In my lunch breaks I would often wander into the Cathedral especially when music recitals were underway. I shall be interested to note the differences working from my new office in Trinity House. I already know something of the vibrant, faith-enhancing role of the Cathedral at the heart of diocesan life."

He succeeds the Rt Revd Colin Buchanan.