Brentwood Diocese has a new shepherd

Bishop Alan Williams

Brentwood has a new shepherd: Bishop Alan Williams was ordained In a ceremony rich with symbolism and song and amid a haze of incense, Fr Alan Williams SM became the seventh Bishop of Brentwood yesterday in a Cathedral packed with civic dignitaries, Cardinals, Bishops, priests and parishioners.

The two hour service involved a Rite of Ordination, during which Fr Alan became a Bishop at the hands of Cardinal Vincent Nichols, Archbishop of Westminster, followed by the Rite of Communion at which he presided for the first time as Bishop in his own Cathedral.

In his homily, Cardinal Vincent Nichols thanked Bishop Thomas McMahon for his 34 years of service to the diocese and welcomed Fr Alan, before going on to recall the words of Pope Francis addressed to the Congregation of Bishops in February on the role of the bishop: “From the lips of the church comes the cry, give us a Bishop, one who can lift us up. Don't send us a manager or a delegate from the agency. We need someone who knows how to reach up to the gaze of God.”

He added: “Self-denial and sacrifice are co-natural to the life of a Bishop, and patience is the finest quality of a Bishop - so we will always keep trying.”

He also passed on some of Pope Francis' priorities for a Bishop: “Prayer, staying close to the people, and always being a servant – there must be no psychology of princes.” After the homily was over, the Bishop-elect answered a number of questions relating to his faith and intentions, before prostrating himself on the marble floor of the Cathedral while cantors Alistair Nichol and Robbie Watson intoned the Litany of Saints above him.

Then came the laying on of hands at the steps of the Cathedra or Bishop’s chair by first the Cardinal and then all the other Bishops present. This was followed by the placing of the open Book of the Gospels on the head of the Bishop-elect as the prayer of consecration was made by the Cardinal.

The newly-ordained Bishop was then anointed with the Oil of Chrism by Cardinal Vincent, before receiving the Book of Gospels, the ring and mitre from him. Bishop Thomas McMahon handed the Pastoral Staff to Bishop Alan, who was then invited to occupy the Bishop’s chair by the Cardinal.

After the Communion Rite conducted by the new Bishop, greetings were extended by the Papal Nuncio, Archbishop Antonio Mennini, Cardinal Cormac Murphy- O’Connor and Bishop Stephen Cottrell, on behalf of Church leaders from other denominations.

Bishop Stephen welcomed Bishop Alan to “a fantastic part of the world”, repeating some of the words he had used to the Queen on her recent visit to Chelmsford: “Brother, the only way is Essex!”

He praised the ecumenical efforts of Bishop Thomas, without whom “the wonderful ecumenical hospitality and partnership in mission of this part of the country would never have been so deep rooted or far-reaching”. He concluded: “We are looking forward to the journey God is asking us to make with you and may your episcopate be richly blessed, bearing fruit in unity, joy and peace that Christ may be made known.”

For his part, Bishop Alan said he had taken the advice of a fellow bishop and would keep it brief: “I have been asked in recent weeks if I am afraid of this ministry, of coming to Brentwood – not at all. But one thing has always puzzled me – how can Bishops wear two hats and get away with it? I had a fitting in front of a mirror recently by a fussy Italian fitter which seemed fine but when it comes to getting them off, they explode. So do be patient with me. I suspect the clergy will have clubbed together to buy me L plates – I need them. But I am very, very confident that the people and priests of the Diocese will look after me as I hope to do for you, by the Grace of God.”

After the service had concluded, Bishop Alan posed for photographs with members of the congregation and onlookers outside and then attended a reception at Brentwood School’s Courage Hall, where he made a point of speaking to those at every table.

He said later: “The day was wonderful. I was delighted to see so many Bishops there, from different denominations and I enjoyed meeting so many people. I was able to relax in the service and listen carefully and I am grateful to the Cardinal for his words. I thought the ones about a Bishop not being a manager or an administrator were particularly apt. I am looking forward to getting to know the diocese and the people.

"Tomorrow, I will pick up the cat from Walsingham and then I have confirmations at St John’s School on Thursday and the ordination of a deacon on Saturday, so I am hitting the ground running.”

The ordination service featured music by Parry, Rutter and Mozart, sung by the Cathedral Choir and arranged by Director of Music, Andrew Wright. The entrance hymn was All Creatures of Our God and King and the programme featured The Peace of God by John Rutter, which was originally commissioned for the dedication of the Cathedral and the people of Brentwood Diocese. Some special requests by Bishop Alan – Let All Mortal Flesh and a Marian anthem, Sub Tuum Praesidium – were also included. The final hymn was Guide me, O thou Great Redeemer, and organist Stephen King concluded proceedings with Allegro Maestoso from Sonata in G, op. 28 by Elgar.

Those present included Cardinal Vincent Nichols, Archbishop of Westminster, the Papal Nuncio Archbishop Antonio Mennini, Cardinal Cormac Murphy-O’Connor, the Bishops of England & Wales, 163 priests and deacons, church leaders from Churches Together in Essex and East London and the Greek Orthodox Church, and interfaith leaders from the Muslim, Sikh, Hindu and Jewish religions. Bishop Thomas McMahon and Bishop Tom Burns were co-consecrators at the ordination, which was attended by Bishop Graham Rose of the twinned Diocese of Dundee in South Africa, the Marist European Provincial from Paris, Fr Hubert Bonnet-Eymard SM, and the Regional Superior of the Marist Brothers, Fr Peter Corcoran SM.

Civic dignitaries included the Lord Lieutenant of Essex, Lord Petre, the Vice Lord Lieutenant of Greater London, Wing Commander Mike Dudgeon OBE DL, the High Sheriff Nicholas Charrington and Under Sheriff Roger Brice, High Court judges and the Mayor of Brentwood, Councillor Vicky Davies, resplendent in their regalia, the Chairman of Essex County Council, Cllr Norman Hume, and MPs Sir Bob Russell (Colchester) and David Amess (Southend West).

Fr Alan Williams Fr Alan Williams was born in Oldham, Lancashire in 1951. He took final vows in the Society of Mary [Marist Fathers] in 1981 and was ordained priest in St Anne’s, Whitechapel in 1983. Father Alan holds degrees in theology, psychology and religious education and has served in a number of pastoral roles. He has worked as a teacher and chaplain in secondary schools. He also served as Catholic Chaplain at Sheffield Hallam University and taught Christian Spirituality at postgraduate level. He is a former major superior of the Marist Fathers in England and has worked as a parish priest in the Archdiocese of Southwark. At Walsingham he has had overall responsibility for pilgrimage and retreat work.

Audio highlights of the ordination are available on the diocesan website: www.dioceseofbrentwood.net Video highlights and a DVD will follow.