THE new Bishop of Durham was formally consecrated yesterday, in a York Minster service attended by more than 1,000 people.

The Right Reverend Justin Welby, formerly Dean of Liverpool, was commissioned for his new role, along with the Venerable Robert Freeman, the new Bishop of Penrith, by Dr John Sentamu, the Archbishop of York, in a celebration service mixing English and African styles.

Bishop Welby, a 55-year-old father-of-five, made oaths to the Queen and the archbishop and promises to serve and lead his diocese and carry out his duties as bishop.

Other bishops laid their hands upon him to pray for him, he was anointed with oil and was presented with a pastoral staff, symbolic of his mission to lead his Christian flock, and a Bible.

Referring to Bishop Welby’s 11 years in the energy industry, Dr Sentamu, who was wearing a red mitre with yellow flames, joked he was consecrating “a former oil magnate”.

A sermon was delivered by Josiah Fearon, Bishop of Kaduna, in Nigeria, and a former Durham University student.

Bishop Fearon brought congratulations for Bishop Welby from Olesegun Obasanjo, former President of Nigeria, with whom he had worked on peace and reconciliation ministry in the west African nation.

He said the worldwide Anglican communion was “very badly divided”.

That the church had become a stumbling block to faith was “a tragedy”, he said, and he called for unity among Christians.

The two-hour service included hymns partly written by Dr Sentamu, John Cosin, a 17th Century Bishop of Durham, and Michael Sadgrove, the Dean of Durham.

The Reverend Dr Julia Candy, from St Giles’ Church, in Durham City, read from John’s Gospel.

Afterwards, Bishop Welby said: “It’s quite overwhelming to be at the centre of something like that and quite humbling.

My head’s going round and round.

“I managed to get my name right each time, so I think it went well. Everyone was fantastic.

“The sermon really struck with me. Josiah’s an old friend of mine – we’ve been in all kinds of dangerous situations in Nigeria where he works.

“What he said was very, very poignant and very important – about the unity of the Church and serving Christ together.”

Bishop Welby will be installed at Durham Cathedral on Saturday, November 26.