The Bishop of Norwich, the Rt Rev Graham Usher, has been introduced as a new member of the House of Lords in a short ceremony. Bishop Graham now joins the Archbishops of Canterbury and York, as well as 23 other Church of England Bishops, to form the Lords Spiritual. The ceremony, which took place on Thursday October 26, involved Bishop Graham swearing an Oath of Allegiance to the Crown, with the support of the Bishop of London, the Rt Rev Dame Sarah Mullally, and the Bishop of Southwark, the Rt Rev Christopher Chessun.
In his introduction to the House of Lords, Bishop Graham expressed his gratitude for the opportunity to serve. He stated that his desire is to focus on the wellbeing of others and work towards creating stronger and flourishing communities, both locally and globally. Bishop Graham emphasized the need to live more sustainably on our planet and address the multitude of threats that society faces, including war, terrorism, disease, inequality, climate change, and biodiversity loss. He stressed the importance of fostering a common purpose and listening to the voices of those from other faith communities in order to build a more peaceful and equitable future.
Bishop Graham also noted that his Christian faith serves as a source of inspiration in his quest for a better world. He expressed his intention to champion the people and work within the area covered by the Diocese of Norwich. On Twitter, Bishop Graham thanked everyone for making him feel welcome and stated his hope that his Christian faith will provide him with wisdom as he faces the challenges and opportunities ahead. He aspires for a more peaceful, equitable, and environmentally conscious nation and world.
The picture accompanying the article shows Bishop Graham Usher with his sponsors, the Bishop of London, the Rt Rev Dame Sarah Mullally, and the Bishop of Southwark, the Rt Rev Christopher Chessun. It was provided by the Church of England in Parliament.
