Following the announcement of Bishop Michael's appointment on the 10 Downing Street website yesterday morning, Bishop Michael made a whistle-stop tour of the diocese, beginning by meeting staff and clients of the YMCA Black Country with Bishop Clive in Wolverhampton:
And his first media interviews as Bishop-designate of Lichfield, with Rob Golledge of the Express and Star and Joanna Writtle of BBC Midlands Today:
Then a drive through the sleet to Stoke, to meet clergy and clients of the Sanctus refugee project at St Mark's church Shelton:
And he pinned a yellow ribbon to the Sentinel Cross, ahead of the annual walk of witness by combined churches across Newcastle-Under-Lyme and Stoke-on-Trent:
Before heading to Shropshire to meet the Lord Lieutenant of Shropshire, volunteers at the Market Drayton Food Bank and CAP, clergy of Hodnet Deanery chapter and the team behind the 'TGI Monday Show' led by the Diocese of Lichfield's Online Pastor:
Finally, it being St Chad's Day he went to the Cathedral Church of St Mary & St Chad, in Lichfield and was prayed for by the Dean, the Very Revd Adrian Dorber. He was welcomed by, and addressed, the Greater Cathedral Chapter before attending a special service of Evensong which included the St Chad's Day commemoration of Benefactors and the installation of three new Prebendaries: