A new bishop was sworn into office for the third time this weekend, having moved diocese “up the road” in the North East.

An audience of about a thousand guests gathered at St Nicholas Cathedral to celebrate the inauguration of the Right Reverend Dr Helen-Ann Hartley, as the 13th Bishop of Newcastle.

Bishop Helen-Ann, formerly Bishop of Ripon in the Diocese of Leeds, succeeds the Right Reverend Christine Hardman, who retired in October 2021.

It is the first time the succession of bishops has gone from woman to woman in any diocese in the country.

The Northern Echo: Civic leaders greet new Bishop of Newcastle, The Rt Rev Dr Helen-Ann Hartley, at her inauguration ceremony at St Nicholas Cathedral, Newcastle Civic leaders greet new Bishop of Newcastle, The Rt Rev Dr Helen-Ann Hartley, at her inauguration ceremony at St Nicholas Cathedral, Newcastle (Image: North News)

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Prior to her return to the UK she served as the Bishop of Waikato, in New Zealand, from 2014 – 17.

Among those attending Saturday's (April 22) inauguration were clergy from across the Newcastle Diocese, Church of England bishops, leaders from other faiths, and civic and political leaders from across the North East.

Former Olympic athlete and founder of the Great North Run, Sir Brendan Foster, gave a scripture reading.

Pupils from Archbishop Runcie Church of England First School in Gosforth, Newcastle, led the new bishop through the cathedral, accompanied by Northumbria Pipers, Robson’s Choice.

Along with the order of service, all those arriving at the cathedral also received a chocolate bar from Tony’s Chocolonely, which is committed to ending slavery in the chocolate industry, in a wrapper designed by pupils from Duke’s Secondary School in Ashington.

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Bishop Helen-Ann said: “I am very excited indeed that my inauguration service has finally arrived.

“Although it has felt like a long time waiting for it, I am very grateful for the opportunity this has given me to settle into our new home and to begin the process of getting to know our wonderful Diocese of Newcastle.

“For the Church of England, place and identity matter.

“We are ordered in such a way that we rejoice in being a Christian presence in every community and the Church does an awful lot that is good, much of which goes unseen.

“As I come into this new role as Bishop of Newcastle, I am coming home to a region I grew up in and which nurtured and encouraged my own faith in Jesus.

“Jesus taught his friends, the disciples to notice things, to look out for the lost, last, and least, and above all to show the light and love of God, the God who loves us unconditionally.

“From coast to countryside, city to village, resource church, Abbey and Cathedral, and countless ministry contexts, parishes and chaplaincies, I rejoice in the good news of the Kingdom of God that is being proclaimed and lived out in so many ways.

“I’m looking forward to working with all of you in this new season.

“Please continue to pray for me, as I pray for you. Thanks be to God!”

The Northern Echo: Traditional ritual of knocking at the door of Newcastle Cathedral prior to inauguration ceremony for the new Bishop of Newcastle, The Rt Rev Dr Helen-Ann Hartley Traditional ritual of knocking at the door of Newcastle Cathedral prior to inauguration ceremony for the new Bishop of Newcastle, The Rt Rev Dr Helen-Ann Hartley (Image: North News)

The Right Reverend Mark Wroe, Bishop of Berwick, who grew up in Chester-le-Street, said: “This is a joyful and significant moment for our diocese as we welcome Bishop Helen-Ann as our thirteenth Bishop of Newcastle.

“We are absolutely thrilled that God has called her to be here.

“Bishop Helen-Ann brings real enthusiasm, energy and compassion, as well as a knowledge and experience of our region and its culture, and above all, a deep love of God and his people.

“We are truly blessed to have her leading us and serving among us as our Bishop.”

Also attending the inauguration service were bishops from international dioceses linked with Newcastle, the Right Reverend Ingeborg Midttømme, Bishop of Møre, Norway, and the Right Reverend Metlhayotlhe Beleme, Bishop of Botswana.

Edinburgh-born, the new bishop spent her early years living in the Scottish Borders, where her father was a Church of Scotland minister.

But, at a young age she moved with her family to Sunderland, where she attended primary and secondary school, and her father became a priest in the Church of England.

Read next:

* Helen-Ann returns to the region - as the new Bishop of Ripon

* Maori traditions make the new Bishop of Ripon feel at home

* New Ripon Bishop swaps New Zealand for North Yorkshire

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Ordained into the Church of England in 2005 as deacon in the Diocese of Oxford, she became a priest a year later, before relocating to New Zealand, in 2010.

Bishop Helen-Ann is active in the world of media and is a keen runner, regularly taking part in parkrun.

She is married to musician Myles, from Cumbria, while both her parents, now retired, live in Durham.