Young Chorister Embodies Ancient Tradition as Norwich Cathedral’s Child Bishop
In a moving ceremony steeped in medieval tradition, twelve-year-old Sébastien Dubroeucq stepped into a role that bridges centuries of cathedral history when he was named Norwich Cathedral’s 2025 Child Bishop. The special Evensong service, held on Friday, December 5th to celebrate St. Nicholas—the patron saint of children—saw Sébastien don ceremonial robes and address the congregation with wisdom that belied his years. The Bishop of Thetford, the Rt Revd Ian Bishop, blessed the young chorister and presented him with a book of prayers before Sébastien delivered his homily, reviving a custom that dates back to the Middle Ages when a boy would symbolically take the Bishop’s place on St. Nicholas Day.
During his address, Sébastien spoke with remarkable clarity about our shared human experience, telling those gathered, “Every one of us in this building is going through some sort of journey, and our duty as God’s people is to help and guide each other through our journeys in life as God helps and guides us.” His message emphasized the importance of kindness and mutual support, continuing, “As peers and friends, we should support and be kind to each other as we each go on our own individual journey.” These words carried special weight coming from someone so young, highlighting precisely why Norwich Cathedral has revived this ancient tradition—to create a platform where young voices can be heard and to underscore the significant role children play in both the church and wider community.
The tradition of the Boy Bishop, as it was known historically, represents a fascinating inversion of the usual ecclesiastical hierarchy. For a brief but meaningful moment, the highest religious authority in the diocese would step aside, allowing a child to symbolically take his place. This practice, which flourished across Europe during the Middle Ages, served multiple purposes—it reminded the powerful of Christ’s teachings about the spiritual wisdom of children, created a moment of ceremonial role-reversal that echoed the biblical notion that “the last shall be first,” and gave young people a rare opportunity to be centered in church life. Though the tradition disappeared for centuries in many places, its revival at Norwich Cathedral speaks to a growing recognition that children deserve not just to be seen in religious spaces, but genuinely heard and valued.
Norwich Cathedral’s decision to modernize the title from “Boy Bishop” to “Child Bishop” represents a thoughtful adaptation of tradition to contemporary values, making the role potentially more inclusive. The ceremony formed part of the Cathedral’s broader Advent and Christmas program, with the service concluding with the blessing of the Cathedral’s outdoor nativity scene—a fitting connection between the Child Bishop tradition and the celebration of the Christ Child at the heart of the Christmas story. The parallels are striking: both center a child as a bearer of profound truth, both invert expected hierarchies, and both remind us that wisdom can come from the most unexpected sources.
For Sébastien, a Cathedral chorister, this honor represents far more than wearing special vestments for a day. As Child Bishop, he embodies a living link to countless children who stood in similar shoes throughout the Cathedral’s nearly thousand-year history. His experience offers him a unique perspective on leadership, public speaking, and the responsibility that comes with representing an institution and tradition much larger than himself. For the congregation who witnessed his installation, there was something powerfully moving about seeing ancient ceremonies brought to life through a contemporary child, hearing timeless messages of compassion and mutual support articulated in a young voice that represents the future of the faith community.
Norwich Cathedral continues to blend reverence for tradition with openness to evolution in its liturgical practices. Visitors to the Cathedral during the Christmas season will have the opportunity to experience not only the Child Bishop tradition but numerous other services and events that mark this festive time. The Cathedral website (cathedral.org.uk/christmas) offers details on the full program of Advent and Christmas celebrations, providing both locals and visitors multiple opportunities to engage with the sacred spaces and practices that have formed the spiritual heartbeat of Norwich for generations. Through traditions like the Child Bishop, Norwich Cathedral demonstrates how ancient practices can remain relevant and meaningful, especially when they elevate voices—like Sébastien’s—that might otherwise go unheard in our society.
