Bishop in Charge Mark Edington of the Convocation of Episcopal Churches in Europe

Bishop Pierre hands the crozier to Bishop Mark (Photo courtesy of TEC Europe)
On Saturday 6 April, a new Bishop in Charge of the Convocation of (US) Episcopal Churches in Europe, Mark Edington, was consecrated in the American Cathedral in Paris. Presiding Bishop Michael Curry presided, with another 35 bishops assisting.


The preacher for the service was the Very Revd Dr Andrew McGowan, a well known theologian and liturgical scholar. In a stirring address, Fr McGowan declared that “Christendom is over, and this is not bad news. It’s good news. That’s over but the Jesus Movement isn’t over.” He turned to the bishop elect and said, “Welcome and go away, as God calls us to look out and not within". The ordination litany was sung in English, Spanish, Italian, French and German. The ordinary of the mass was a setting by Canadian composer Healey Willan!

Unlike consecrations in the Church of England, the new bishop in the Episcopal Church receives a very impressive document certifying to his or her consecration. Participating bishops sign and add their seal from their own episcopal rings to the document.



The Episcopal Church in Europe has about 20 congregations in France, Italy, Switzerland, Austria, Germany and Belgium. Bishop Mark succeeds Bishop Pierre Whalon as Bishop in Charge of the Convocation. It is thus a relatively small jurisdiction in Church of England terms (the Diocese in Europe has about 300 congregations) but like our own Diocese in Europe is a multicultural and increasingly multi-lingual family of churches. Bishop Robert and I look forward to working with Bishop Mark in the years to come and we pray for him as he assumes his episcopal ministry.

Bishop Mark Edington (Photo courtesy of TEC Europe)
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