The Rev Canon Ian Paton will become the next Bishop of St Andrews, Dunkeld & Dunblane when he is consecrated in a special service in St Ninian’s Cathedral, Perth at 12 noon on Saturday 20 October.

The service of Consecration will be led by the Most Rev Mark Strange, Bishop of Moray, Ross and Caithness and Primus of the Scottish Episcopal Church, who says “It is with much joy that we are preparing for the Consecration of Ian Paton as Bishop of St Andrews, Dunkeld & Dunblane. The service in St Ninian’s Cathedral will bring together people from communities across the Diocese, the Province and friends from partner churches overseas to share in this special celebration. Ian is a welcomed new member to the College of Bishops and the College looks forward to working with him.”

Members of the College of Bishops, together with retired Bishops and church dignitaries from outwith Scotland, will participate in the act of consecration (laying-on of hands with prayer). The preacher at the service will be the Rt Rev Dr Richard Holloway, who has known Canon Paton for many years through Old St Paul’s Church and the Diocese of Edinburgh.

In preparing for his consecration Canon Ian Paton said “The past few weeks have been full of mixed emotions – Carrie and I were sad to say farewell to the congregation of Old St Paul’s Church but we are excited to have moved to Perth – to our new home and to our new church community across the Diocese. I am deeply honoured to have been elected by the people of St Andrews, Dunkeld & Dunblane to serve them as their Bishop and I am looking forward to starting our journey together on Saturday.”

Canon Paton has been Rector of Old St Paul’s Church, Edinburgh since 1997, and also honorary Anglican Chaplain to Edinburgh University, Canon of St Mary’s Cathedral, Edinburgh and Associate Tutor at the Scottish Episcopal Institute. He was previously a rector in East Lothian, Vice-Provost of St Mary’s Cathedral, a university chaplain in Oxford, a bishop’s chaplain, and a curate in Reading. He is a former convener of the Scottish Episcopal Church’s (SEC) Liturgy Committee, involved in writing new services for the SEC, and continues to teach worship to students training for ministry. He believes that the Church should be open and inclusive, inviting people of all ages, backgrounds, abilities, and lifestyles, to encounter God’s presence in worship and to express God’s love in service. Canon Ian Paton is married to the Rev Canon Dr Carrie Applegath, who is a psychotherapist as well as an ordained priest.

Attendance at the service is by invitation – as a packed Cathedral is anticipated with representatives of churches across the Diocese and the wider Church and from local civic representatives, and therefore additional space is restricted. The Service will be video live-streamed to enable anyone unable to attend the service to be able to follow it online and to feel part of it. The live stream will be available on the Scottish Episcopal Church website and Facebook page.