new dean

By Catherine Jones on Dec 10, 07 02:23 PM

Saturday afternoon found me in Liverpool cathedral where I'd been invited to take part in the installation service for the new Dean Justin Welby.
The poor bloke - I interviewed him on Friday and he said to me "does it ever stop raining here?". He's been in Liverpool about 10 days and obviously it has been a bit damp.
"Oh yes," I replied. "Sometimes it's just windy."
Am I wrong?

Anyway, it was a very interesting service full of church pomp and ceremony although I didn't get to my bit until page 21 in the order of service!
I was one of a group of "greeters" who had to process up to the steps and take it in turns to shake hands with the new Dean and welcome him to Liverpool. I was buddied up with the head of the probation service and we were told to keep 6ft between ourselves and the pair in front.
Very precise.
It's an interesting time to take over the reins at the cathedral on the brink of Capital of Culture.
I suspect his feet won't touch the ground for the next 12 months.