St Conan's church on the side of Loch Awe
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Archbishop Jonathan Blake's Crozier
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Preparing for Bishop Helen's Consecration
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Some attending OEC priests and bishops
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Bishop Helen Hamilton
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Bishop Helen’s healing retreat centre seems custom made. But she didn’t view its perfection until she moved in. Rooms overlook Scottish lochs and mountains; the only (wonderful) nearby neighbour offers extra beds; and there’s even a stable, decorated biblically, and a waterfall, pond and stream! This and the Isle of Luing is worth a visit!
After packing, transporting, and unpacking ceremonial goodies, we arrived at Loch Awe. A stunning Scottish stone church, St Conan's Kirk, houses an effigy of Robert The Bruce, the medieval King of Scotland. Alabaster face and hands, give a life-like translucence.
http://www.undiscoveredscotland.co.uk/lochawe/stconans/
Today the church housed the consecration of Bishop Helen – Scotland’s first woman Bishop. The ancient ceremony, based on Liberal Catholic rites, dates back about 500 years.
Standing before the Alter at the start, Archbishop Jonathan Blake unexpectedly passed me his Crosier (Cross on a pole) to hold. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crosier
I was suddenly his personal assistant, and felt humbled and honoured. So he could read, sing, and anoint, I held his service book steady and high (he’s tall!). All was fine, except the service lasted for 3 and half hours! Luckily I do daily press-ups!
Beside Loch Awe, I watched with awe, closer to the process than anyone else could be.
The new Bishop made public vows, before being prayed over as she lay stretched out, face down. Anointing was with holy oils massaged into her scalp then palms in shapes, like crosses in circles. Godly feelings of peace and calm flooded the church. Bishop Helen then received a ritual she prefers to keep private (so no photographs of this bit...)
After, I squeezed lemon juice over the Archbishop's hands and passed him bread so he could clean off the holy oil. Even his cleansing was done with reverence and and spiritual energies of love.
Bishop Helen feels called to open hospitality and healing places across Scotland. If you feel called to help, contact her direct...
http://www.facebook.com/helen.hamilton.391
http://www.facebook.com/pages/OECScotlandorg/143492035753914
After packing, transporting, and unpacking ceremonial goodies, we arrived at Loch Awe. A stunning Scottish stone church, St Conan's Kirk, houses an effigy of Robert The Bruce, the medieval King of Scotland. Alabaster face and hands, give a life-like translucence.
http://www.undiscoveredscotland.co.uk/lochawe/stconans/
Today the church housed the consecration of Bishop Helen – Scotland’s first woman Bishop. The ancient ceremony, based on Liberal Catholic rites, dates back about 500 years.
Standing before the Alter at the start, Archbishop Jonathan Blake unexpectedly passed me his Crosier (Cross on a pole) to hold. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crosier
I was suddenly his personal assistant, and felt humbled and honoured. So he could read, sing, and anoint, I held his service book steady and high (he’s tall!). All was fine, except the service lasted for 3 and half hours! Luckily I do daily press-ups!
Beside Loch Awe, I watched with awe, closer to the process than anyone else could be.
The new Bishop made public vows, before being prayed over as she lay stretched out, face down. Anointing was with holy oils massaged into her scalp then palms in shapes, like crosses in circles. Godly feelings of peace and calm flooded the church. Bishop Helen then received a ritual she prefers to keep private (so no photographs of this bit...)
After, I squeezed lemon juice over the Archbishop's hands and passed him bread so he could clean off the holy oil. Even his cleansing was done with reverence and and spiritual energies of love.
Bishop Helen feels called to open hospitality and healing places across Scotland. If you feel called to help, contact her direct...
http://www.facebook.com/helen.hamilton.391
http://www.facebook.com/pages/OECScotlandorg/143492035753914
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