With members of Hope class at Bishop Bronescombe.

Bishop Bronescombe School, in St Austell, was the venue for Bishop Philip to announce that the Revd Hugh Nelson would be the next Bishop of St Germans.

Bishop Philip made the announcement just after 10am – the time the news was broken by Downing Street. The audience was a class of Year 5 and 6 pupils, who proceeded to ask plenty of probing questions in a lively Q&A session.

Next Bishop of St Germans offers a prayer

There then followed collective worship on the parable of the Prodigal Son. The assembly  highlighted the value of forgiveness, and was devised and executed by pupils. The next Bishop of St Germans was then invited to offer a prayer.

With the St Petrocs team and some clergy colleagues at Eliot Gardens.

After leaving Bishop Bronescombe, Hugh and Bishop Philip went over to Newquay. There they visited the church’s property in Eliot Gardens which has recently been taken over by St Petrocs.  Hugh was able to have a look around the property and see the home that has been created. He also met staff and began to get an idea of the problems faced by homeless people in Cornwall.

With Revd Steve Wild.

With Dean Roger and Bishop Philip at the cathedral.

In the afternoon, Hugh went to Truro Cathedral where he was greeted by other members of the Episcopal College. He also met the cathedral’s residentiary canons and Revd Steve Wild, the chair of the Cornish Methodist District.

Donna Birrell radio show

Following tea – which of course included pasties, scones, jam and clotted cream – Hugh’s last appointment of the day was in the BBC Radio Cornwall studios. There he and Bishop Philip recorded an interview for broadcast on Donna Birrell’s Sunday Breakfast programme (click here to listen to the show – Hugh’s interviews are at 1:22:23 and 2:21:22).

After the day’s visits, Hugh said: “It really was a very special day. I can’t think of any better place for the announcement to be made in Cornwall than at Bishop Bronescombe. The children were amazing – they had some insightful questions for me and then I was lucky enough to take part in collective worship that was devised and presented by the children.

“It is a deeply impressive school. During the assembly I could see for myself the infectious enthusiasm of the children.

“It was also a joy to see and learn about the work of St Petrocs, in my visit to Eliot Gardens. I am looking forward to working closely with them once I’ve been consecrated and am in Cornwall full time.

“And finally I got to meet some of my clergy and lay colleagues at the cathedral, not least Dean Roger who gave me a guided tour. I was pleased, too, that Steve Wild was there to represent our brothers and sisters from the Methodist Church.

“Of course there is only so much of the diocese that you can see in a day, but my visit has left me enthused. I can’t wait to move to Cornwall and start my new role.”

In the studio with Donna.