Enthronement Ceremony Held for New Bishop of Sodor and Man

The enthronement ceremony for the 88th Bishop of Sodor and Man took place at Cathedral Isle of Man, where the new bishop was formally installed. The Right Reverend Patricia Hillas has assumed the role, succeeding the Right Reverend Peter Eagles, who served from 2017 until his retirement in October of the previous year. This enthronement ceremony in Peel occurred after her consecration, which was performed by Archbishop of York Stephen Cottrell at York Minster last month. The event commenced with a brief service held at St German’s Cathedral, located within Peel Castle, prior to the enthronement ceremony itself, which began at 14:00 GMT at Cathedral Isle of Man. Formal processions by various dignitaries, including representatives from Tynwald, Lieutenant Governor Sir John Lorimer, and officials from the diocese and cathedral, were part of the ceremony. In adherence to tradition, the ceremony commenced with the Bishop striking her staff against the closed cathedral doors, after which she was welcomed inside by the Dean, the Very Reverend Nigel Godfrey. During the service, she was escorted to the cathedral’s throne and seated upon it. Musical contributions to the Peel proceedings were provided by the Cathedral choir, Caarhyn Cooidjagh, and the Anglican Youth Fellowship Band, which traveled from Uganda. The diocese of Sodor and Man holds the distinction of being the smallest within the Church of England, encompassing 45 churches and 27 parishes. Bishop Hillas, born in Kuala Lumpur in 1966 to an Indian mother and a British father, relocated to the UK with her family in 1971. Her ordination took place in 2002, following a career dedicated to youth and social work, where she specialized in assisting individuals living with HIV and AIDS. Her prior roles include serving as Archdeacon and Canon of Westminster, in addition to being Chaplain to the Speaker of the House of Commons. The bishop’s role on the island is distinctive because the incumbent holds a seat in the Legislative Council and possesses the voting right within Tynwald. A legislative proposal aimed at abolishing this voting right is presently under review by a committee comprising three MLCs, as it progresses through the upper chamber of the Manx parliament. This consideration follows the bill’s advancement through the House of Keys.