CAPTION: During the service Bishop Mike blessed the Chrism oils, which are distributed to parishes for anointing the sick and baptisms
Bishop of Exeter Leads First Maundy Thursday Chrism Service at Exeter Cathedral
The new Bishop of Exeter, the Rt. Rev’d Dr Mike Harrison, has led his first Maundy Thursday Chrism Eucharist service at Exeter Cathedral.
The service gets its name from the Chrism oils, used for anointing the sick and for baptism.
They were blessed by Bishop Mike during the service, before being distributed to priests to use in their parishes throughout the year.
Priests gather from across Devon for the service
The Chrism Eucharist is the biggest annual gathering of clergy and Licensed Lay Ministers from across Devon.
During the service they are invited to renew their ministry vows, along with Devon’s bishops.
In his sermon, Bishop Mike spoke about his childhood parish priest and another inspirational vicar he worked with in London’s East End. Addressing the clergy and lay ministers he said: “You are a window into God’s resilient and gentle compassion towards us… called to show something in yourselves of God’s beauty, God’s wisdom, God’s love. You are set apart to be visible.”
Maundy Thursday marks the start of Easter weekend and is the day when Christians remember Jesus, the Last Supper and his arrest ahead of his crucifixion on Good Friday.
As well as the Cathedral service, there are Maundy Thursday services and vigils taking place at churches across Devon.
These will be followed by services on Good Friday, Holy Saturday and Easter Sunday.
