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Shanties, Ice-Creams, Bells and Boat-Trips as New Bishop of Crediton is Announced
The new Bishop of Crediton-Designate, the Venerable Moira Astin, joined shanty singers and school children in a sing song as part of her announcement day tour of Devon.
Moira, who is currently Archdeacon of Reigate, was announced locally by the Bishop of Exeter on Appledore Quayside on Tuesday 3 June after her appointment was approved by the King and made public by Downing Street.
She said “I’ve so been looking forward to this day, to be able to come here and start getting to know, start being part of what is going on here.”
While in Appledore, she met members of the Torridge Coastal Mission Community and visited Uncle Wainwright’s charity shop, which is run by the parish church.
There were performances by Year 5 pupils from Appledore Primary School and the Apple Corers shanty group.
Moira was also joined by the Bishop of Exeter and Bishop of Plymouth for a short trip on the Appledore to Instow ferry, which is run by volunteers.
This was followed by a stop-off to buy a Hoskings ice-cream, an Appledore institution.
The day had begun with a service of morning prayer at Westward Ho! parish church, at which people prayed for Moira and this new chapter in her ministry.
After Appledore, Moira then travelled onto Crediton parish church to meet members of the local ministry team and have lunch with female clergy from across Devon.
During the lunch she shared some of her positive and negative experiences of being a female priest, but said she did not feel she was a pioneer in her new role, because she would be the third female Bishop of Crediton, following in the footsteps of the Rt. Rev’d Sarah Mulally and the Rt. Rev’d Jackie Searle.
Bishop Sarah, who is now Bishop of London, will be the person to consecrate Moira as a bishop at St Paul’s Cathedral on 3 July.
In the afternoon, Moira, who is currently a primary and secondary school governor, visited St Peter’s CofE Secondary School in Exeter, where she addressed Year 7 pupils as part of their collective worship and toured the school.
Her announcement day finished with Evensong at Exeter Cathedral.
There will be an official welcome service for the new Bishop of Crediton at the cathedral on Sunday 6 July. Both her consecration service and welcome service are open for anyone to attend.
