New Exeter bishop to bless Exeter and Devon

The new Bishop of Exeter will stand on Cathedral Green and bless the city and county of Devon immediately after his installation on Saturday, before handing out thousands of ice-creams.

The Rt Revd Robert Atwell will process down to the Cathedral through the High Street, led by children representing Devon’s 131 church schools, a group from the Young Farmers Association, and the Barnstaple Youth Marching Band.

When he reaches the Great West Doors of Exeter Cathedral, he will pause and kneel to pray, marking the end of the ‘prayer pilgrimage’ he has taken around the county in previous weeks.

He will then knock on the doors with his staff, which will be opened by pupils from St Luke’s School, Exeter.

Bishop Robert, a former Benedictine monk, was previously the Bishop of Stockport in Cheshire.

He said he was “nervous but hugely excited” at becoming the Bishop of Exeter.

“As I’ve been round the county on pilgrimage the last two weeks, I have met and prayed with so many people and it has been really encouraging. Devon is such a varied county – most people have this picture postcard idea of it but I’m discovering that there are real challenges behind this.

“The installation service is not really about me, but about a new chapter in the life of the Church here.”

His priorities are to encourage people to go deeper in prayer and let God transform their lives, so they in turn can go out and help others.

After the service on Saturday he will go out onto Cathedral Green and bless the city and county. There will be a jazz band on Cathedral Green and free icecream for everyone.