ALMOST 1,000 people gathered at the county's mother church to celebrate the enthronement of their new bishop.The Rt Rev Nigel Stock was enthroned as the 10th bishop of the St Edmundsbury and Ipswich Diocese at a moving ceremony at St Edmundsbury Cathedral in Bury St Edmunds.

ALMOST 1,000 people gathered at the county's mother church to celebrate the enthronement of their new bishop.

The Rt Rev Nigel Stock was enthroned as the 10th bishop of the St Edmundsbury and Ipswich Diocese at a moving ceremony at St Edmundsbury Cathedral in Bury St Edmunds.

While the skies were grey and the weather grim outside, inside the atmosphere was warm and welcoming as the county took the new bishop to their hearts.

Guests including Lord Tollemache, the Lord Lieutenant of Suffolk, The Rt Rev Michael Evans, Roman Catholic bishop of East Anglia, Margaret Charlesworth, mayor of St Edmundsbury, Inga Lockington, mayor of Ipswich, Bury St Edmunds MP David Ruffley, the Rt Rev Aaron Kijanjali, bishop of Kagera in Tanzania - which is linked with the Suffolk church - joined hundreds of worshippers and well-wishers.

The bishop, 57, was anointed and took the opportunity during his enthronement sermon to make people laugh with light-hearted comments, and to raise serious issues.

He said: “Can we sustain our clergy numbers? I sincerely hope that we can, I will say that now. Localised concerns are played out against a backdrop of wider divisions and strife.”

The enthronement, in the stunning cathedral with its soaring arches and beautiful chandeliers, saw clerics in colourful red and golden vestments adding to the sense of occasion and history in the making as television crews and reporters also looked on.

Val Jeffreys, from Needham Market, a guest at the ceremony, said: “His sermon moved me, it was a lovely occasion.”

SUFFOLK'S new bishop is a keen football fan who is looking forward to supporting Ipswich Town.

The Rt Rev Nigel Stock comes to the county from the Diocese of Chester where he has served as the Bishop of Stockport for the last six years.

He and his wife Carolyne have three grown up sons and his interests include history, art, walking, photography, and watching rugby and football and he has already said that he is looking forward to supporting Ipswich this season.

Born and raised in Newcastle upon Tyne, Bishop Nigel has had a varied church career spanning 22 years in parish ministry.