First female Bishop of Coventry installed

Coventry's first female Bishop has been officially installed during a service at the city's cathedral.

The Right Reverend Sophie Jelley, the tenth Bishop of Coventry, was welcomed by three young people from schools in the diocese as the service began on Saturday afternoon.

Previously the Bishop of Doncaster, she has taken on responsibility for 201 parishes across Warwickshire and Coventry.

Bishop Jelley has succeeded the Rt Rev Dr Christopher Cocksworth, who left the diocese in November last year.

The cathedral bells rang and a choir of children from eight local schools sang as dignitaries including MPs, council and business leaders assembled for the service.

The bishop, escorted by the Archdeacon of Canterbury, led the Litany of Reconciliation from the cathedral ruins before proceeding through the main building's doors, which were thrown wide open in welcome.

During the service, Bishop Jelley took oaths of allegiance and obedience before receiving the Diocesan Crozier - a curved staff - from the High Altar where it was placed by her predecessor when he left in 2023.

She gave her inaugural sermon before enjoying a performance of Sing, written by Gary Barlow and Andrew Lloyd Webber, from the combined schools choir.

The bishop was then presented with symbolic gifts representative of the diocese's heritage, including a jar of honey from a local farmer and a goose quill from Shakespeare Birthplace Trust.

The service finished with an episcopal blessing.

Bishop Jelley, who is married and has three grown-up children, said on her appointment she looked forward to sharing "the story of God's love with the people of Coventry and Warwickshire".

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