Enthronement plans and liturgy

In putting the enthronement liturgy together the Dean of Newport, Ian Black and the Canon for Worship, John Connell began by looking at the previous two enthronements for Wales along with the enthronement for the Archbishop of Canterbury in 2013.

From these they put together a draft structure for the shape and direction of the liturgy and then decided where to slot in the various elements that needed to be included.

They worked closely with Archbishop Cherry. It is her enthronement and they wanted to ensure that the service had just the right tone that she felt was appropriate to mark the public inauguration of her ministry as Archbishop of Wales.

The big difference in the Church in Wales is that the Archbishop is already Diocesan Bishop and so is not coming to the Cathedral for the first time. It is already her Cathedral, so it doesn’t make any sense for the usual banging on the door with a crosier. She already has a key! The Canterbury enthronement was notable for beginning with a child asking the Archbishop who he was and why he had come. This struck everyone as setting the right tone of humility for the service and Archbishop Cherry will be greeted by a young chorister - Joseph. This will take place at the font in the oldest part of the Cathedral, where Gwynllyw (Woolos) founded his church in 5th century. It will link the whole service with the earliest days of Christianity in Wales, our heritage of faith, and our common entry into that faith through baptism.

Given everything that has happened in the Church in Wales that has led up to this enthronement, the service then moves in front of the throne, which will be at the head of the nave, in the midst of the gathered congregation. This sets a relational tone. The role of Archbishop is for and among people.

Here there will be an act of corporate penitence. We will seek the healing, reconciling grace of God, as the Coronation Kyrie by Welsh composer Paul Mealor is sung and Archbishop Cherry leads us in an act of penitence, whilst kneeling before the throne.

Readings from the Old Testament, Epistle and Gospel will follow. We act in response to the Word proclaimed, and so the oaths will be taken using the Monmouth Archbishops’ Bible - used at the enthronement of all previous Bishops of Monmouth who have become Archbishop - Edwin Morris, Derek Childs, Rowan Williams, and now Archbishop Cherry.

After this, Archbishop Cherry will be enthroned by the Senior Bishop, Bishop Gregory of St Asaph and will be blessed for her new ministry by all her fellow Diocesan bishops, expressing their corporality and unity.

Once enthroned and greeted by the whole assembly from across Wales and beyond, the Archbishop will take her seat on the Archiepiscopal throne as the Cathedral Choir sing The Call of Wisdom by Will Todd, composed for Her Late Majesty Queen Elizabeth the Second and sung at St Paul’s Cathedral for her Diamond Jubilee service. It has a focus on humility and the things that are of value of God's eyes - wisdom, truth, justice and mercy.

After preaching the sermon, Archbishop Cherry will lead us in sharing the faith of the Nicene Creed in this the 1700th year of its writing and then Dr Cynan Llwyd, Secretary of Cytûn will introduce the Archbishop to church and faith leaders from across Wales, and Bishop David Thomas Morris will introduce the Archbishop to representatives of the Church of England, Church of Ireland, the Scottish Episcopal Church and the Archbishop of Uppsala representing the Porvoo Churches.

Archbishop Cherry will pledge to work alongside her fellow Church leaders, and together they will pray for the unity of Christ’s body, the Church, after which , as a sign of that commitment to unity the whole assembly will exchange the peace.

Prayers will follow, led by pupils from St Teilo's Church in Wales High School in the Diocese of Llandaff and Ysgol Penrhyn Dewi from the Diocese of St Davids and the service concludes with an Act of Commitment to the mission of the church and ends with an older chorister, Emily, asking the Archbishop if she will promote the wellbeing and unity of the Church and be a good Shepherd to her people after the example of Christ.

The service includes well known hymns in Welsh and English, anthems chosen by Archbishop Cherry and music for the harp played by the former Royal Harpist. The setting of words from Psalm 40 verses 1-8 was commissioned for the service and was composed by Sarah MacDonald, Director of Music at Selwyn College Cambridge and Director of Ely Cathedral Girls’ Choir. As the Archbishop and clergy process out of the Cathedral, the organist will be playing Widor’s Toccata from the Symphony no 5, a joyful ending to a special and unique service.