71st Bishop of Exeter installed

The 71st Bishop of Exeter, the Rt Rev Robert Atwell, was installed at Exeter Cathedral on Saturday.

He was processed down the High Street by children representing Devon’s 131 church schools, a group from the Young Farmers Association, and the Barnstaple Youth Marching Band.

He paused at the Great West Doors of the Cathedral to pray, marking the end of the ‘prayer pilgrimage’ he has taken around the county in previous weeks, before knocking three times with his staff on the door.

He was welcomed in by pupils from St Luke's School in Exeter.

He said he was a "Bishop with L plates" and didn't have all the answers but urged people to show joy in their faith.

"We will not commend the gospel to the people of Devon by being po-faced and negative. What is demanded of us is not moralizing, but joy. "

After the service he went outside to bless the people of Devon and handed out icecreams to those watching on Cathedral Green.