A WEEKEND of celebrations is planned to mark the enthronement of Gloucester's new bishop, the Right Rev Michael Perham, on Saturday, May 29 (2pm).

Bishop Michael, who was consecrated by the Archbishop of Canterbury in St Paul's Cathedral at the beginning of May, will be installed in his 'cathedra' during a special service attended by clergy and church members from all over the diocese (admission to ticket holders only).

The special weekend will begin on Friday, May 28 when he will meet the Bishops of Dornakal and Karnataka Central - the two partner dioceses of Gloucester in the Church of South India. That evening he will attend an evening of prayer and worship with young people from Gloucester diocese in St Matthew's Church, Cheltenham.

Enthronement day itself will begin with a simple service of Holy Communion in one of the county's oldest churches, St Mary's, a Saxon church at Deerhurst. The Bishop of Tewkesbury, the Right Rev John Went, will preside at the service, which will be attended by members of the bishop's staff and the visitors from India.

Later Bishop Michael will visit St James' Church at Tredworth. From there, accompanied by the vicar, Canon Michael Butler, he will begin the journey on foot to the cathedral, stopping on the way to meet leaders of the other faith communities in the city.

On reaching the Salvation Army Citadel in Eastgate Street, the bishop will be met by a party of children and the diocesan children's officer, Chris Chesterton. The children will then lead the bishop in procession with banners flying to the cathedral. After a picnic lunch on the lawn at Bishopscourt (CORR), they will accompany Bishop Michael to the west door of the cathedral to begin the service of enthronement.

On Sunday, May 30 - Pentecost Sunday - the bishop will preach at the main morning service at 10.15am. In the evening he will conduct his first confirmation service - for the parishes of the Stow deanery in Moreton-in-Marsh Parish Church.