Rt Revd Dr Matthew Porter annointed as Bishop of Bolton

The Rt Revd Dr Matthew Porter was made the Bishop of Bolton at a formal ceremony at York Minster.

He was consecrated alongside the Rt Revd Smitha Prasadam, Bishop of Huddersfield and the Rt Revd Anna Eltringham, Bishop of Ripon.

Family, friends, civic leaders and colleagues gathered in the historic setting for the service, led by the Most Revd Stephen Cottrell with a sermon by the Rt Revd Dr David Hamid, Suffragan Bishop in Europe.

The consecration was at York Minster (Image: Ravage Productions)

Bishop Porter was supported by The Rt Revd Prof David Walker, Bishop of Manchester, the Rt Revd Mark Davies, Bishop of Middleton and clergy from the diocese who took part in the procession of robed clergy.

Friends from his former parish, St Michael le Belfrey - a stone's throw away from the Minster - were also in attendance.

Bishop Porter said: "I’m delighted to become the Bishop of Bolton and am looking forward to serving the people of the Diocese of Manchester.

“It was a long but rich service of consecration in York Minster, and after hands had been laid on me by many bishops, it was great that the first to congratulate me were the two Manchester bishops: David and Mark.

Mayor of Bolton Mohammed Ayub and the Bishop of Bolton (Image: Ravage Productions)

“The pastoral staff - known as a crosier - that I was handed by the Archbishop of York at the end of the service belonged to the first Bishop of Bolton. It’s been lovingly restored by Ravens, expert silversmiths in Sheffield, where I used to live and serve before York.

"It reminds me not only of my past in Sheffield but also that I continue the work of others, in caring for God’s church and bringing the gospel of Jesus Christ to a new generation."

He will be the sixth Bishop of Bolton, and is moving to the town from York where he has been serving as the Vicar of St Michael le Belfrey.

Bishop Porter describes himself as ‘a follower of Jesus and a leader in God’s church – in that order.’ He believes that nothing of lasting significance happens without prayer.