Nearly 1000 people attended a celebration evensong to mark the 25th anniversary of Bishop Graham’s episcopal consecration on Friday February 23 at Norwich’s Anglican Cathedral.
A special Festal Evensong celebrated Bishop Graham’s silver jubilee and he Bishop of Repton, the Rt Rev Jan McFarlane returned to the diocese to preach.
Drinks for the whole congregation were served after the service.
Bishop Graham was consecrated as Bishop of St Germans in the Diocese of Truro on 23 February 1993 and came to Norfolk as Bishop of Norwich in 1999. He is currently the longest serving bishop in the Church of England.
He has had many additional responsibilities within the Church of England, and is currently the lead spokesman on media issues.
Ordained Deacon in 1975, he was a curate in Peterborough Diocese then served as a Team Vicar in Welwyn Garden City. In 1987 he was appointed Chaplain to the Archbishop of Canterbury, serving both Robert Runcie and George Carey.
Bishop Graham said: “My memory of the day of my consecration as a bishop in Westminster Abbey is both vivid and blurred, if such a thing is possible. Blurred since so much was happening and I was surrounded by people from every part of my then life. Vivid because it seems like only yesterday sometimes and not 25 years ago.
“Those who were not there in 1993 were all the people I’ve got to know or been privileged to serve since then. Our 18 years in this diocese have been very happy ones for Julie and me. We’ve been wonderfully supported by the prayers and love of many people.”
Pictured above is Bishop Graham during the service, picture courtesy of Graham Howard and the Diocese of Norwich.
You can see a picture gallery on the Diocese of Norwich Facebook page.
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