The Rt Rev Ian Paton was today consecrated the new Bishop of St Andrews, Dunkeld & Dunblane in a special service held in St Ninian’s Cathedral, Perth.
The service of Consecration was led by the Most Rev Mark Strange, Bishop of Moray, Ross & 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.”
The sermon at the service was preached by 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.
Bishop Ian says “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 today.”
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.
St Ninian’s Cathedral, which opened last Sunday after major refurbishment, was packed as people from all over Scotland and from the wider Anglican Communion (including the United States and Sweden) attended the service, which was live streamed to an audience across several countries.
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