News from Canterbury Diocese
February 8 2010
For immediate use

The Rt Revd Trevor Willmott installed
as new Bishop of Dover at special service at Canterbury Cathedral

The Right Reverend Trevor Willmott was installed as the new Bishop of Dover at a special service in Canterbury Cathedral on Saturday.

During the service, the Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr Rowan Williams, handed over delegated responsibility for the Diocese of Canterbury to Bishop Trevor, who was previously the Bishop of Basingstoke.

Around 1,000 people attended the service including the Lord Lieutenant of Kent, the Mayor of Canterbury and leaders from many faiths including the Archbishop of the Greek Orthodox Church of Great Britain, The Catholic Bishop in Kent and senior representatives from the Salvation Army, Baptist, Methodist and United Reformed Churches

Also in the audience was Bishop Trevor's daughter Elizabeth, a Hydrogeologist and the Bishop's wife Margaret, a school finance manager who contributed to the service by reading the second lesson.

The Bishop of Winchester, the Rt Revd Michael Scott-Joynt presented Bishop Trevor to the Archbishop who, following the declarations and oaths, blessed Bishop Trevor's ministry in Canterbury Diocese.

The Dean of Canterbury Cathedral, the Very Revd Robert Willis then symbolically handed the new Bishop of Dover the Pastoral Staff, after which the thousand strong audience erupted into applause.

After hearing official welcome messages from the Lord Lieutenant of Kent, Alan Willetts, an ecumenical welcome from the Chairman of Churches Together in Kent, Revd Nigel Uden and a welcome from Canterbury Diocese from Mrs Caroline Spencer and Revd Mark Roberts, Bishop Trevor thanked everyone for their welcome and said: "I offer myself in joyful service to you and the people of the diocese."

Afterwards, Bishop Trevor took to the Cathedral pulpit to give his maiden sermon as Bishop of Dover

Using the second reading from 1 Corinthians chapter 16 verses 13-14, Bishop Trevor called on the church to 'Keep alert, stand firm in your faith and let all that you do be done in love'.

Stating that love must be the 'focus of all we do' and suggesting that the role of the Bishop of Dover 'means absolutely nothing unless it is shot through with love' Bishop Trevor asked; "What do we want the wider communities of this diocese to see in us over these next years together? What do we hope they may say about us, what may they see in our common life?"

He continued:

"I offer three things which strike me as being critically important.

"Firstly, those that we seek to serve, must see that we are committed to them - to a common good for the well being of every single human being, regardless of perhaps the way the world might see them."

Reflecting on the large number of multi faith representatives present at the service, Bishop Trevor explained that a common good may only be found if the church is 'prepared to build such relationships' with groups from other faiths.

In his second point the Bishop went on to explain the need for a ministry that is rooted in the teachings of Jesus, which serves all people: "I stand before you as a Bishop wholly committed to the life of the church. I want to encourage us to continue, to provide that servant ministry to others."

In his final point, the Bishop spoke of the need for the work of the church to grow: "Finally people must see that you and I indeed are about building together the body of Christ. I see the sheer tenacity of faith in local church communities. Let's together in the diocese continue to build on this."

Bishop Trevor will spend his first few weeks in his new post meeting local communities in the 16 deaneries which make up the diocese of Canterbury which stretches from Maidstone to the East coast.

Ends

Photos

Notes to Editors

Bishop of Dover

The title, 'Bishop of Dover', was created under King Henry VIII by an act of 1534. His main function is to assist the Archbishop of Canterbury in the business of the diocese.

In more recent years, because of the increased worldwide responsibilities of the Archbishop of Canterbury, the Bishop of Dover is effectively the pro-Diocesan Bishop. This is signified by the deed of delegation he will receive from the Archbishop at his investiture.

The Bishop of Dover has oversight for Canterbury Diocese which stretches from Maidstone southwards and includes the Weald, Romney Marsh, Ashford, Dover, Thanet, Faversham, Sittingbourne and the Isle of Sheppey and includes 288 parish churches.

Biography

Bishop Trevor, who in his own words was "given the gift of faith" as a teenager, by an inspiring Christian family, studied for ordained ministry at Westcott House, Cambridge after a first degree in Theology at St Peter's College, Oxford. Following a curacy at St George's Norton in St Alban's Diocese, Bishop Trevor worked in Chaplaincy roles in Oslo then Naples in the Diocese of Europe, and as Officiating Chaplain to H.M. and American Forces in Southern Europe, before returning to England as Rector of Ecton and Warden of Peterborough Diocesan Retreat House; a role he held from 1983-1989.

From 1986 to 1997 Bishop Trevor was Peterborough Diocesan Director of Ordinands and Diocesan Director of Post Ordination Training. He was made Canon Residentiary and Precentor of Peterborough Cathedral in 1989. In 1997 he became Archdeacon of Durham and Canon Residentiary of Durham Cathedral, and in 2002 was consecrated as Bishop of Basingstoke.

During his seven years as the suffragan Bishop of Basingstoke, Bishop Trevor has taken a lead in the areas of social reform, criminal justice and rural affairs, as well as taking particular pastoral responsibility for churches in the North of the Diocese of Winchester. He has been a founding Trustee of the social welfare charity Hampshire Community Foundation and a founding Trustee of Emmaus Hampshire - a charity that cares for the homeless. Bishop Trevor is also the Co-editor of 'Re-shaping Rural Ministry - a Theological and Practical Handbook' - which was published last year by SCM.

Bishop Trevor has many national church responsibilities and was elected to the Upper House of the Convocation in the Province of Canterbury in 2005 and is a member of the Business Committee of the Church of England's General Synod.