Looking forward to the consecration

It’s not long now until we welcome Rev. Dr Joe Kennedy to the Diocese as our new Bishop of Burnley.

This page provides everything you need to get signed up and be there in person for his consecration at York Minster on July 19.

We want as many people as possible to attend and will make it easy for people by providing several buses to make the trip free of charge from various points around the County.

Our soon-to-be Bishop, Joe is a priest with broad experience of both chaplaincy and teaching, as well as in the ministering and leading of others to help God’s church to grow.

Your personal invitation to York Minster

Bishop Philip writes:

On behalf of the Archbishop of York I am delighted to invite you to the Consecration of the next Bishop of Burnley, The Rev. Dr Joseph Kennedy.

The service in York Minster will take place on Friday 19 July 2024 at 11am.  

A number of consecration services at the Minster have been poorly attended recently and I am extremely keen for this not to be the case as we welcome Joe to our Diocese.

Below you will find two links, each linking to an online form which will ask for your details in order to book a place. The first is for clergy and Licensed Lay Ministers. Please note, any instructions regarding robing are provided by York Minster and included on these booking link pages.

The second link is for general congregation and can be open to anyone from the Diocese of Blackburn.

Please share these links with your people and they will be shared on Diocesan social media and online.

Consecration Service (Booking Links)

The Consecration service booking links are as follows:

• Clergy and Licensed Lay Ministers – click here to book
• General congregation – click here to book

Please note: the last date to book a ticket for this service is Friday 28 June 2024.

To encourage attendance, three coaches will make return journeys from the North, East and Central parts of the Diocese of Blackburn direct to York Minster.  These coaches are provided free of charge and seats are available for booking on a first come, first served basis. 

Each coach departs at the same time in the morning but will return at staggered times offering an opportunity to enjoy some extra time in York after the service if you wish or come straight home if you would prefer. You must go and come back on the same bus and the departure times will be sharp without opportunity to wait for people who are not there on departure.  Please ensure your ticket is booked for the Consecration Service before reserving a coach seat.  To book your coach seat, please see the details below:

If you have any queries regarding the Consecration Service or the coach journeys, please contact Abigail Saunders (PA to The Bishop of Burnley) using pa.burnley@blackburn.anglican.org

I look forward to seeing you there and hope you can join in making this an occasion to remember as we pray for Joe at the start of his ministry with us.

Background information about Rev. Dr Joe Kennedy

• Read more about Joe here including a full biography coverage of his announcement; media coverage of the event and more.
• Read speeches from the announcement day here
• More coverage of the announcement day visit to Balderstone here.
• Watch a video greeting from Bishop Joe here …

Ronnie Semley, June 2024