THOUSANDS of people watched on as the Bishop of Blackburn was inaugurated at the town’s Cathedral - who then celebrated by speaking to the faithful at Ewood Park at half time.

Prior to the service Bishop Julian Henderson, joined by clergy from the Diocese and outside dressed in their clerical robes, took a route from the town hall, to the cathedral.

At the cathedral, Jack Straw MP, county council chairman Michael Devaney and the Dean of Blackburn, The Very Rev'd Christopher Armstrong, were amongst the people awaiting the age-old inauguration ceremony.

Bishop Julian took his staff, a cedarwood shaft with an ancient Saxon hammer bound with silver wire, and knocked on the west door of the cathedral three times before entering.

Bethan Shaw, 18, from Feniscowles, who attends Stonyhurst College and Harry Brookes, 15, from Darwen, a pupil at St Wilfred’s High School, read from the Bible, and invited the new Bishop to bless the congregation, the town and the county.

Bishop Julian said: “To become the ninth Bishop of Blackburn is extremely humbling. It is an honour to be entrusted with such an important and significant responsibility.”

Bishop Julian and his family then went to the Rovers versus Charlton Athletic clash at Ewood Park.

The Bishop met with the club’s senior staff and at half time he spoke to the crowd from the pitch.

He said: “We were delighted to be invited by Rovers to attend the match and wish them every success in the game.”

A spokesman for Blackburn Rovers said: “We were pleased Bishop Julian and his family were able to accept our invitation to attend the match.”