26 February 2022
The Right Reverend Lynne Cullens has been officially welcomed to the Diocese of Chelmsford as the new Bishop of Barking at a special welcome service at Chelmsford Cathedral this afternoon
The service, was an opportunity to formally welcome Bishop Lynne into her new role before she begins her public ministry on 21 March, and was attended by church leaders and church communities from across Chelmsford Diocese, including the Barking area. The service was also attended by civic leaders and Bishop Lynne’s former colleagues from Chester Diocese.
During the service, Bishop Lynne was presented with important symbols of her new ministry as Bishop, including her pastoral staff which was gifted to her by her former diocese, the Diocese of Chester. The Bishops of Colchester and Bradwell, the Right Reverend Roger Morris and the Right Reverend John Perumbalath presented Bishop Lynne with her cope and mitre. Students from the London Design and Engineering University Technical College in Stratford, who designed Bishop Lynne's pectoral cross, also attended the service as did pupils from St John’s Church of England Secondary School in Epping, which Bishop Lynne visited when she was first introduced as the next Bishop of Barking, in November 2021.
Bishop Lynne was consecrated as a bishop at St Paul’s Cathedral last month during a service led by the Archbishop of Canterbury.
Bishop Lynne was previously the Rector of Stockport and Brinnington in the Diocese of Chester, where she has served since July 2019. She is also a trustee and the Chair of the National Estate Churches Network.
Speaking ahead of the service, Bishop Guli said:
We are very much looking forward to welcoming Bishop Lynne to Chelmsford Diocese with this special service at Chelmsford Cathedral. Please join me in praying for her as she prepares to take up her new ministry alongside a fantastic team of clergy and lay people who faithfully lead our churches in the Barking Area. Bishop Lynne’s experience in her previous ministry will be a great blessing as we continue to serve and bring the good news of Jesus to the many different communities across Essex and East London.”
Looking forward to the welcome service, Bishop Lynne said:
I’m looking ahead to the Service of Welcome with joyful anticipation and with gratitude at being able to share the occasion with so many who have been important to me in my life and ministry to date, as well as with those who will be into the future.
I’m very much looking forward to this new phase of my ministry as Bishop of Barking and to meeting with - and learning from - the people, communities and partners who make up the Barking area. It will be a privilege to serve God alongside you.”
The Very Revd Nicholas Henshall, The Dean of Chelmsford, commented:
It was fantastic to be present at Bishop Lynne’s consecration at St Paul’s Cathedral on 25th January and we are very much looking forward to her installation here at Chelmsford Cathedral, marking the beginning of her ministry as Bishop of Barking. As a fellow Mancunian I am also very happy to have another northerner on the Bishop’s Leadership Team.”
Bishop Lynne succeeds the Right Reverend Peter Hill who retired as Bishop of Barking last year.
The service was livestreamed on the Chelmsford Cathedral YouTube Channel and can be watched below.
