The Ordination and Consecration of The Venerable Patricia Hillas as Bishop of Sodor and Man

10/10/2024

To read more about the Bishops of Selby and Whitby visit the Diocese of York website.

In the splendour of medieval York Minster the Venerable Patricia Hillas has been consecrated and ordained as the next Bishop of Sodor and Man by the Archbishop of York, Stephen Cottrell in a service which also saw The Reverend Canon Dr Flora Winfield  consecrated as the Suffragan Bishop of Selby, and the Reverend Barry Hill  also consecrated as the Suffragan Bishop of Whitby.

Born in Malaysia, Tricia grew up in Lincolnshire before moving to East London in 1984, where she and her husband Andrew met. Since 2020 Tricia has served the Westminster parliamentary community as Chaplain to The Speaker of the House of Commons, whilst also serving as a Canon of Westminster Abbey. Prior to this Tricia was a Canon of St Paul’s Cathedral, Vicar of St Barnabas, Northolt Park and Assistant Curate at St Mark’s, Harlesden. Before ordination she worked as a social worker alongside people with HIV and adults with disabilities.

Before the service began Tricia took the Oath and Solemn affirmation of Allegiance to King Charles, Lord of Man using the following words.

I, Patricia Hillas, Clerk in Holy Orders, chosen Bishop of the Church and See of Sodor and Man, do swear by Almighty God that I will be faithful and bear true Allegiance to His Majesty King Charles the Third, His Heirs and Successors according to Law. So help me God.

The procession and congregation then gathered to the Processional Hymn ‘How shall I sing that majesty which angels do admire?’

Following the Presentation of the candidates by the Bishops of Leeds, Leicester, Liverpool, London and Hull Tricia and the other candidates took the Oath and Solemn affirmation of Canonical Obedience using these words:

I, Patricia Hillas, Clerk in Holy Orders, chosen Bishop of the Church and See of Sodor and Man, do swear by Almighty God, that I will pay true and canonical obedience to the Lord Archbishop of York and to the Metropolitical Church of St Peter in York and to their successors. So help me God.

Readings from Scripture included the Old Testament Reading (Isaiah 2:2-5) read by Katy Hill; a New Testament Reading (Ephesians 2:4-10) read by Rosemary Clarke, Warden of Readers for Sodor and Man. The Gospel Reading was  from Matthew 28:16-20 before the Sermon given by Canon Dr Paula Gooder, Chancellor, St Paul’s Cathedral, London.

As the service continued with the Liturgy of Ordination Tricia along with the other candidates made formal Declarations.

Veni Creator was then sung as it is at all ordinations in the Church of England followed by the Litany of Prayer and prayers for those ordained and consecrated.

The Archbishop laid his hands on Tricia’s head as he prayed:

Therefore, Father, through Christ our Lord we pray: 
Send down the Holy Spirit on your servant Patricia for the office and work of a bishop in your Church.

A Bible was then gifted by the Archbishop to Tricia and then she knelt before him and was anointed with oil.

Tricia and the others were then welcomed into their new ministries with a sustained and warm round of applause from the full Minster congregation.

Following the celebration of the Eucharist  The Archbishop’s Mandate for Induction and Enthronement was addressed to the Dean of Peel – Sodor and Man, and requires the Dean to ensure that the new Bishop of Sodor and Man is inducted into the actual and corporeal possession of the Bishopric of Sodor and Man.

This will take place at the enthronement in the Cathedral Church  in Peel on Saturday 16 November 2024 and is symbolised by the act of the Dean placing the new Bishop in the seat of the Diocesan Bishop in the Cathedral.

The Dean of Peel – Sodor and Man stood before the Archbishop as he said:

‘I deliver to you my Mandate requiring you to admit and induct the Right Reverend Patricia Hillas into the actual and corporeal possession of the Bishopric of Sodor and Man. I further require you to certify in writing to the Provincial Registrar of York that this has been done.’

The Dean of Sodor and Man replied: ‘I accept your Mandate, and will so do.’

Following the blessing from the Archbishop of York each of the newly ordained Bishops was presented with the gift of a pastoral staff with the words:

Keep watch over the whole flock in which the Holy Spirit has appointed you shepherd. Encourage the faithful, restore the lost, build up the Body of Christ.

The Recessional Hymn, All my hope on God is founded was sung as the procession formed and the congregation departed from the Minster.

The full service can be viewed on the York Minster Livestream Channel

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