Episcopal Bishop of Aberdeen & Orkney looks forward to Consecration

The Very Rev Dr Robert (Bob) Gillies, 55, will be consecrated and installed as the new Bishop of Aberdeen and Orkney in a special service in St Andrew's Cathedral, Aberdeen, on Saturday.

The Service of Consecration will be attended by around 600 people including representatives from Scottish Episcopal churches across Scotland, other church denominations and local dignitaries including the Lord Lieutenants of Aberdeenshire and Kincardinshire, a representative of the Lord Provost, and local MSPs and Councillors.

The Primus of the Scottish Episcopal Church, the Most Rev Dr Idris Jones, will lead the service. He said: "There is a personal pleasure for me in leading this service with Bob at its centre. He and I have in the past worked as members of the same pastoral team - when he was my line manager in fact - so I know of Bob's great gifts and commitment to ministry at first hand.

"He comes to Aberdeen equipped for episcopal ministry as fully as anyone can be and we pray for God's continued blessing on him as he takes on this responsiblity in Aberdeen and in the wider Anglican Communion."

The Primus will be joined by other bishops of the Church in consecrating Dr Gillies. Clergy from across Scotland and overseas, including representatives from Aberdeen & Orkney's companion dioceses Connecticut in the USA and Mthatha in South Africa, will take part in a robed procession which will lead the Bishop-Elect in to the Cathedral. The Rev Professor Trevor Hart, Principal of St Mary's College, University of St Andrews, will preach the sermon.

Part of the service will include entrusting the new bishop with the Diocesan Crozier - the sign of a bishop's pastoral office. He will also receive the bishop's ring and a pectoral cross.

Dr Gillies was elected as the new Bishop of Aberdeen & Orkney in April. He has most recently served as rector of St Andrew's Church, St Andrews, and Dean of that diocese.

He previously held appointments as chaplain to the University of Dundee, Curate to Christ Church, Morningside, Edinburgh and Curate to Christ Church, Falkirk. He was an honorary philosophy lecturer at Dundee from 1985-1994.

Dr Gillies is married to Liz, who was recently appointed to Aberdeen City Council's Education Department. They have three sons - Patrick, Andrew and Timothy. In preparing for his consecration the Bishop-Elect said that "becoming a bishop during a controversial period within the history of the Anglican Communion is somewhat challenging".

"Although the challenges that lie ahead may be daunting, I relish this exciting opportunity to develop my ministry and share experiences with the people of Aberdeen and Orkney," he said.