TWO new bishops were consecrated by the Archbishop of York at the York Minster.

The Ven Paul John Ferguson, Archdeacon of Cleveland, was consecrated as the Suffragan Bishop of Whitby, and the Rev Canon Dr John Bromilow Thomson, Director of Ministry in the Diocese of Sheffield, was consecrated as the Suffragan Bishop of Selby by Dr John Sentamu.

Archbishop Sentamu said: “Consecrations are always special services, and it is splendid when two or three bishops are consecrated to serve in one diocese - like I was consecrated bishop with two others to serve in the diocese of London in 1996.

"John and Paul will bring unique gifts to advance the mission of generous churches making and nurturing disciples.

"They will join a united team and help our churches make a real difference in our communities, as lives are transformed by an encounter with Jesus Christ."

A service to welcome Rev Dr John Thomson as the Bishop of Selby will take place in Selby Abbey at 11am on Saturday (5th July). And the service to welcome the Ven Paul Ferguson as Bishop of Whitby will take place in St Hilda's Church, Whitby, at 7.30pm on Tuesday (8th July).

John Thomson succeeds the Rt Rev Martin Wallace, who retired in November last year, and Paul Ferguson succeeds the Rt Rev Martin Warner, who becomes Bishop of Chichester.