It was standing room only at Bradford Cathedral as the diocese welcomed its new Bishop.

Among more than 650 people attending the enthronement of the tenth Bishop of Bradford, the Right Reverend Nick Baines, were Bishops from as far away as the US and Sudan, other faith leaders and the High Sheriffs of West and North Yorkshire.

The invited guests gazed toward the west door of the cathedral at 2.30pm on Saturday as the Bishop ceremonially knocked three times before being welcomed in by the Dean, the Very Reverend Dr David Ison.

Another symbolic part of the service saw the Bishop pick up the staff left on the altar by former Bishop David James, representing his assumption of responsibility for the diocese.

Bishop Nick, former Area Bishop of Croydon in the Southwark Diocese, delivered a sermon in which he encouraged people to have “confidence not only in God but in the church itself”. He also talked about “loving our communities” and “nurturing the common good” in Bradford, Keighley, and surrounding areas.

The new Bishop, a former modern languages student at Bradford University, is known for his media expertise, having often appeared on Chris Evans’ Radio Two show, and is a frequent user of social networking site Twitter.

He told the Telegraph & Argus: “It is the beginning of a learning experience and for the diocese to receive from me the ministry I bring. I am looking forward to it. I studied German and French here. It (Bradford) has changed a lot, but there is also the familiarity of it.

“I am very glad to be back.”

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