Clergy and worshippers from all over Derbyshire are invited to attend a service of installation and welcome at Derby Cathedral at 3pm on Saturday, June 9th, for the Rt Rev’d Humphrey Southern, the new Bishop of Repton.

The announcement that Humphrey Southern, 46, would become the new Bishop of Repton was made by Downing Street in February this year and the appointment makes him the second most senior leader in the Church of England Diocese of Derby. It is a role which will see him sharing in the ministry of the Bishop of Derby as a Suffragan or ‘assistant’ Bishop.

The service will be an opportunity for those who could not make it to Bishop Humphrey’s ordination and consecration at St Paul’s Cathedral in London last week, to meet him, offer their prayers for his new role and welcome him and his family to Derbyshire.

The Rt Rev’d Dr Alastair Redfern, Bishop of Derby said: “This service will be a time to congratulate Humphrey on his ordination as a Bishop and welcome him into our diocese. A bishop’s role is very demanding but Humphrey comes with great energy and enthusiasm. We will pray for God’s blessing on his work here and give thanks for such an exciting appointment. We are all very much looking forward to working with him.”

Before becoming the Bishop of Repton, Humphrey was Team Rector for 12 villages in the Nadder Valley in the Diocese of Salisbury. During this time, he was appointed a Rural Dean, leading local clergy of several churches within and around the Chalke area. Just last year, he was appointed Canon and Prebendary of Salisbury Cathedral. He was also Chair of the House of Clergy in the Diocese of Salisbury.

Bishop Humphrey and his wife, Emma, a District Nurse, and two daughters, Laura, aged nine, and Kate, aged eight, will be living in Lea, Matlock.

ENDS