THE new Bishop of Plymouth has been officially welcomed into his new role during an Installation service at Exeter Cathedral.

During the Choral Evensong on Sunday The Rt Rev James Grier was presented to the Bishop of Crediton, who asked him to share with her and the Bishop of Exeter in their mission to lead ‘the people of God’ in Devon by helping them to grow in prayer, make new disciples and serve the people of Devon with joy.

Bishop James, who was wearing a mitre for the first time, responded by saying ‘By God’s help, I will.

He was then presented to the congregation who greeted him with a round of applause.

He was also welcomed by the Deputy Lord Lieutenant of Devon, Lady Arran, a representative from the Roman Catholic Diocese of Plymouth and representatives from the Church of England in Devon.

During his sermon, which was based on the Road to Emmaus story (Luke 24:13-35), Bishop James drew on some of his experiences over his six-day Going in Prayer pilgrimage last week from Exeter to Plymouth.

He said he had been struck by how many people he had met on his walk had suffered a loss, whether it was a bereavement or the loss of livelihood.

He said: ‘What Jesus does is that he comes alongside people, and he walks with them and spends time with them.

‘He listens and allows them to describe their struggles and pour out their pain.

‘He doesn’t just join them he helps them to open their hearts.’

Bishop James said that he hoped that, in his new role as he went from church to church, ‘people won’t be excited by me being there, but will be excited by God being there.’

He ended by saying that the God of the Emmaus Road ‘is a God worth following.

‘Jesus journeys with us in the good times and the bad.’

Bishop James will now commence his role, which has care of the people and churches of South West Devon.