New bishop invites Shrewsbury locals to pull up a pew

A town crier will be inviting locals to ‘pull up a pew’ with the new Bishop of Shrewsbury on Monday.

The Rt Rev Mark Rylands was consecrated at Westminster Abbey on Wednesday and will be installed as an honorary Canon of Lichfield Cathedral. On Monday night he will be welcomed to Shropshire at a civic service in Shrewsbury Abbey.

He will spend his first working day as bishop on a park bench in Shrewsbury town centre listening to the views of locals on the Church, faith and other issues of concern.

The bishop will be joined in Market Square by other clergy from the Shrewsbury Episcopal Area.

He said he would “not be making any big pronouncements or pontificating on any issue”.

“I’m a new bishop and although I have past connections with Shrewsbury and Shropshire, I have been away from the county for some time so it is very important that I come with a listening ear,” he said.

“I am coming to listen to people’s concerns, their hopes and fears. The Church wants to be alongside, listening to and serving our communities as an important part of embodying the Good News of Jesus Christ.”