VIDEO and PICTURES: The new Bishop of Lichfield is enthroned

The Right Reverend Dr Michael Ipgrave OBE officially took up the role of Bishop of Lichfield on Saturday.

In his new role he will head up the Diocese of Lichfield, which has churches in Wolverhampton, Walsall, West Bromwich, Staffordshire and Shropshire.

In a long day for Bishop Michael, he arrived at the historic cathedral on foot after completing the final stretch of his 40-mile pilgrimage from Stoke-on-Trent to Lichfield.

He officially took up the post at a morning service where he went through the enthronement, as representatives from all over his Diocese turned up to welcome him.

After that he took to the streets of Lichfield where he sung hymns and read prayers as part of a large procession that took a short tour of the town centre. Hundreds lined the streets and came out of shops and restaurants to catch a glimpse of the new bishop. At one stage the procession gave a huge round of applause for a just married couple they passed on the final straight back to the iconic cathedral.

After the procession Bishop Michael had to lead another service before he was finally allowed a much deserved rest.

Speaking to the Express & Star he said: "I enjoyed the day very much, I found it tremendously encouraging. I felt a real sense of welcome and I also felt that there was a real sense of working together and heading into the future together.

"My feet are itching to get started, I just want to get round the Diocese and meet more and more people and connect with them and help them connect with one another.

"I hope that as a church we can be a hopeful community, that we can be a serving community and that we can be a community that cares for one another. I do think our task is to take our faith out onto the streets. Of course we belong in our churches but we also belong out there in the communities.

Asked for his views on Lichfield, Bishop Michael added: "It is a wonderful place to be, absolutely beautiful. A real gem in the heart of the Midlands and I am very happy to be here."

And he was welcomed in with open arms by members of his diocese.

The Dean of Lichfield, the Very Reverend Adrian Dorber, said: "The parade was what we had hoped for that we would be able to show the bishop off to his city, the city that gives him his title, and we wanted to make a big celebration.

"I was thrilled with the morning service. We have been months preparing and everything went to plan. It was lovely to see it come off so smoothly and so well. It was very moving.

"We have been waiting quite a long time to get a new bishop and we are delighted that we have got such a person in Michael Ipgrave.

"Bishop Michael comes with an immense amount of pastoral wisdom from his previous job in Woolwich. He knows about urban areas and we have some challenging urban areas in the Diocese of Lichfield with parts of Wolverhampton and Stoke needing as much encouragement as they can get. He has huge experience with multi-faith relationships and he can help us understand other faith traditions and at a time of inter-religious violence I think there is nothing more opportune."

The Venerable Susan Weller, Arch Deacon of Walsall, added: "It was an excellent very uplifting service. We do not get very many opportunities to get the whole diocese together so it is a way to celebrate that and bring the three areas together.

"I have met him several times, very easy to get along with. I am an Arch Deacon and he was one before taking up this role so he understands what is involved and what is required.

"He is very interested in the whole range of working with interfaith groups."