Double celebration at cathedral
More than 1,000 people packed into Lichfield Cathedral for one of the most important services of recent years.
The new Archdeacon of Walsall, Christopher Sims, was officially in-stalled in his post yesterday at a Choral Evensong to mark All Saints' Day at the historic cathedral.
The new Bishop of Shrewsbury, Mark Rylands, was also installed as a canon of the Diocese of Lichfield along with Mr Sims.
Hundreds of local dignitaries from across Staffordshire, Shropshire and the West Midlands attended the ceremony with all three lord lieutenants representing the Queen.
Mr Sims, aged 60, and his wife Catherine have three boys Thomas, David and Andrew. He originally worked as a biology teacher before training for ordination.
He started his ministry in the region when he was ordained at Birmingham Cathedral in 1977 and worked as the curate in Walmley, near Sutton Coldfield.
Mr Sims takes over the role from the Ven Bob Jackson who retired in August after five years in the post.
He will be responsible for legal and administrative support for churches in the archdeaconry, covering 319 clergy and lay ministers in 111 churches across the Trysull, Walsall, Wednesbury, West Bromwich and Wolverhampton deaneries.
After the service he said: "It was very uplifting and affirming to have the support of my family and friends and all the people who came to the cathedral."
He will begin his new role today with a meeting with the Bishop of Wolverhampton.Bishop Rylands, 48, lives in Shropshire after moving from Devon. He is married to the Rev Amanda Rylands and they have two children, Fran and Sam.
Gavin Drake, spokesman for the Diocese of Lichfield said: "This was probably the biggest service since the Bishop of Lichfield was installed."
