The Archbishop of York, The Most Reverend Stephen Cottrell will preside at a double consecration service at York Minster at 11am on Monday 19 July 2021.

The livestream for the consecration service will be available on the York Minster website from 11am on Monday 19 July 2021 at www.yorkminster.org. The Order of Service is available to download below.

The Venerable Julie Conalty, currently Archdeacon of Tonbridge, will be consecrated as the Bishop of Birkenhead and the Reverend Canon Sam Corley, currently Rector of Leeds will be consecrated as the Bishop of Stockport. The new bishops will serve the Church and the communities of the Diocese of Chester.

The Archbishop of York will be assisted on the day by the Bishop of Newcastle, Christine Hardman and the Bishop of Durham, Paul Butler.

The consecration service will take place in the context of the Eucharist and will include readings, prayers, music and a sermon delivered by The Reverend Lusa Nsenga-Ngoy.

The service will be held under careful guidelines because of the Coronavirus pandemic with strict limits on the numbers attending. 

The service will be live-streamed making it possible for the families and friends of Julie and Sam who are unable to attend in person to experience the occasion in real time.  

Archbishop Stephen said: “I am delighted that Her Majesty The Queen has accepted the nomination of Julie Conalty as the next Bishop of Birkenhead and Sam Corley as the next Bishop of Stockport.  They will bring great wisdom, experience, pastoral sensitivity and missional intent to the Diocese of Chester. 

“Bishop Mark and the whole Diocese of Chester are in my prayers, as are Julie and Sam and their families. The Church in Cheshire, the Wirral and parts of Stockport, Trafford and Tameside face many challenges. I rejoice that God has raised up two faithful servants of the gospel to share in the leadership and oversight of the Church as together we seek to make Christ known and build his kingdom in the world.”

In a joint comment about the forthcoming service, Julie and Sam said:  “Any ministry is rooted in and flows out of worship and prayer and so we are looking forward immensely to the service in York Minster where we will become bishops in the Church of God. We are so grateful to all those who are making it possible for a small number of people to be present physically in the Minster, as well as the efforts going into making the service available online and would value people's prayers that blessing, joy and confidence in the love and goodness of God might be hallmarks of the service, and indeed, of all our ministries.”
 
The livestream for the consecration service will be available on the York Minster website from 11am on Monday 19 July 2021 at www.yorkminster.org. The Order of Service will also be available for download on the day.