About 1000 people packed into Peterborough Cathedral today (29 June) for the annual St Peter’s Day celebration service, at which the new Suffragan Bishop of Brixworth was installed and a declaration of intent between the Peterborough and Seoul dioceses was signed.

The new bishop, the Rt Revd John Holbrook, who in effect is the assistant bishop of Peterborough, told the congregation gathered from across the diocese that the Christian calling can be summed up in the words, “Those who know, tell those who don’t”.

His own faith had come alive while he was a teenager at a Christian camp through the ministry of a former curate of St Columba’s church in Corby, he said. He added that he longed to see the church grow both by gaining new members and through the renewal of existing worshippers.

“But it’s not just about the church,” he said. “I’d like to think I’m still young enough to want to change the world!” Mission includes not only telling people about Jesus Christ, he explained, but also tending those who need care, striving to transform the injustices of the world, and treasuring God’s creation and treating it properly.

He quoted with approval the late William Temple, who when he became Bishop of Manchester said: “I come as a learner with no policy to advocate, no plan already formed to follow. But I come with one burning desire; it is that in all our activities we should help each other to fix our eyes on Jesus, making him only our guide.”

“I can’t wait to discover what God has in store for us in the coming years,” Bishop John added. “Thank you for inviting me to share this great adventure.”

During the service of Choral Evensong, the Bishop’s 19-year old son Thomas read one of the Bible readings. Also, the Bishop of Peterborough, the Rt Revd Donald Allister, signed a declaration of intent with the Bishop of Seoul and Archbishop of Korea, the Most Revd. Paul K Kim. The organist of Seoul Cathedral, Cecilia Okjoo Park, played music before the service.

Photos by Chrys Tremththanmor

The full text of Bishop John Holbrook's St Peter's Day sermon

More about the Rt Revd John Holbrook, Bishop of Brixworth

More about the declaration of intent between the Peterborough and Seoul dioceses