New bishop installed at cathedral in Manx capital

A new Catholic bishop has been officially installed in his post in Douglas.

John Sherrington was named as Archbishop of Liverpool by the late Pope Francis in early April. The archdiocese includes the Isle of Man.

He assumed his new role at a ceremony at the Church of Saint Mary of the Isle, which was attended by dignitaries including MHKs and local leaders of other churches.

Archbishop Sherrington's installation at his "co-cathedral" - Liverpool's Metropolitan Cathedral, 80 miles (129km) away across the Irish Sea - took place on 27 May.

As is tradition, the service in the Manx capital began with the archbishop knocking on the closed cathedral doors before being invited in by the Dean, Monsignor John Devine.

Guests included the island's Lieutenant Governor Sir John Lorimer, President of Tynwald Laurence Skelly, Chief Minister Alfred Cannan and leaders of other Christian denominations.

During the service, the letter issued by the late Pope in early April, confirming Archbishop Sherrington's appointment, was read aloud to the congregation.

The bishop was then installed in a special chair in the cathedral, which features his coat of arms alongside that representing the co-cathedral.

The proceedings also included the hymn This Little Light of Mine, performed by the children of St Mary's Catholic Primary School, and the island's national anthem.

During his homily, Archbishop Sherrington said the ceremony marked a "day of great joy".

Archbishop Sherrington moved from the Diocese of Westminster to succeed the Rt Rev Malcolm McMahon OP, who was been in the post since May 2014.

Archbishop McMahon submitted his resignation to the late pontiff last year, having reached the usual retirement age for bishops of 75.

Bishop Sherrington was ordained a priest in the Diocese of Nottingham in 1987.

He was also ordained as an Auxiliary Bishop of Westminster and Titular Bishop of Hilta in 2011.

In addition to the Isle of Man, the archdiocese covers Merseyside as well as parts of Cheshire and Greater Manchester, and an area of Lancashire south-west of the River Ribble.

The elevation of the Manx cathedral in November 2023 followed Douglas being awarded city status as part of the late Queen Elizabeth II's Platinum Jubilee celebrations in 2022.

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