Photos: Consecration celebration and seating of Bishop Julia E. Whitworth

Oct. 19, 2024: Consecration service at Trinity Church in Boston

Photo highlights from the service of ordination and consecration of the 17th bishop diocesan of Massachusetts, the Rt. Rev. Julia E. Whitworth, on Saturday, Oct. 19, 2024, at Trinity Church in Boston.

Trinity Church in Boston on consecration day.
Photo: Matthew Cavanaugh

Signed and sealed: The certificate of consecration.
Photo: Matthew Cavanaugh

Signed and sealed: Each participating bishop signs and seals, in wax with their episcopal rings, the new bishop's certificate of consecration.
Photo: Matthew Cavanaugh

Bishop Jennifer Baskerville-Burrows of the Diocese of Indianapolis makes her seal on the consecration certificate.
Photo: Matthew Cavanaugh

Bishop Carol Gallagher, Assistant Bishop of Massachusetts, makes her seal.
Photo: Matthew Cavanaugh

Bishop Shannon MacVean-Brown of the Diocese of Vermont signs the consecration certificate.
Photo: Matthew Cavanaugh

Bishop Jeffrey Mello of the Diocese of Connecticut makes his seal.
Photo: Matthew Cavanaugh

Bishops gather, pre-service: Bishop Mark Stevenson of the Diocese of Virginia with Presiding Bishop Michael Curry
Photo: Matthew Cavanaugh

Bishop Ian Douglas, retired bishop of Connecticut, with Bishop-elect Julia Whitworth prior to the service.
Photo: Matthew Cavanaugh

Bishop-elect Julia Whitworth with Bishop Chilton Knudsen, retired bishop of Maine and one of the co-consecrators in the service.
Photo: Matthew Cavanaugh

Bishop Alan Gates, retiring as the 16th bishop of Massachusetts, makes his seal on the certificate.
Photo: Matthew Cavanaugh

Bishop Doug Fisher of the Diocese of Western Massachusetts makes his seal on the certificate.
Photo: Matthew Cavanaugh

This is the day: Trinity Church in Boston in the pre-service morning light.
Photo: Matthew Cavanaugh

Bishop-elect Whitworth acknowledges the choir during the pre-service rehearsal.
Photo: Matthew Cavanaugh

Colin Lynch, Trinity Church's director of music, directs the choir in a pre-service rehearsal.
Photo: Matthew Cavanaugh

Members of the diocese's African Clergy Caucus and their families, led by the Rev. Zachary Kinyua on guitar, rehearse songs to be offered during Communion.
Photo: Matthew Cavanaugh

Ushers ready to welcome the congregation.
Photo: Matthew Cavanaugh

Brother Luke, SSJE blows bubbles, adding to the joy during line-up on Trinity's lawn.
Photo: Matthew Cavanaugh

The Rev. Mike Dangelo, the chair of the Consecration Committee, lines up the groups in the processions.
Photo: Matthew Cavanaugh

Members of the clergy lined up and awaiting the start of the processions.
Photo: Matthew Cavanaugh

The Rev. Sarah Neumann and the Rev. Molly Minnerath, joyfully heading toward their line-up location.
Photo: Matthew Cavanaugh

Members of the processions lining up on the lawn outside of Trinity Church.
Photo: Matthew Cavanaugh

Awaiting the start of the processions.
Photo: Matthew Cavanaugh

Members of the clergy lined up and awaiting the start of the processions.
Photo: Matthew Cavanaugh

The processions begin.
Photo: Matthew Cavanaugh

The processions enter Trinity Church.
Photo: Matthew Cavanaugh

Clergy in procession.
Photo: Matthew Cavanaugh

Bishops in procession.
Photo: Matthew Cavanaugh

The Gospelers follow the bishops in the procession.
Photo: Matthew Cavanaugh

Bishop-elect Julia Whitworth in the procession.
Photo: Matthew Cavanaugh

Presiding Bishop Michael Curry completes the procession.
Photo: Matthew Cavanaugh

Representatives of the diocese present the bishop-elect to Presiding Bishop Michael Curry.
Photo: Matthew Cavanaugh

The bishop-elect gives the Oath of Conformity.
Photo: Matthew Cavanaugh

The bishop-elect answers the questions of examination put by the co-consecrating bishops.
Photo: Matthew Cavanaugh

The bishop-elect, prostrate before the altar and consecrating bishops during the Litany for Ordinations.
Photo: Matthew Cavanaugh

The Rev. Winnie Varghese, Rector of St. Luke's Church in Atlanta, preached the sermon.
Photo: Matthew Cavanaugh

The bishop-elect kneels for the Prayer of Consecration.
Photo: Matthew Cavanaugh

The bishops lay their hands on the bishop-elect's head during the Prayer of Consecration.
Photo: Matthew Cavanaugh

The new bishop is vested.
Photo: Matthew Cavanaugh

Among the gifts presented to the new bishop: An icon of the late Rt. Rev. Barbara C. Harris, given by clergywomen of the diocese.
Photo: Matthew Cavanaugh

The new bishop with her parents, F. Dixon and Kay Whitworth, and husband, Ray Neufeld.
Photo: Matthew Cavanaugh

Retiring Bishop Alan Gates presents the diocesan crozier to newly consecrated Bishop Julia Whitworth.
Photo: Matthew Cavanaugh

The new bishop, with husband Ray Neufeld and their children, Liam, Grace and Gregory.
Photo: Matthew Cavanaugh

Bishop Whitworth, at the exchange of The Peace.
Photo: Matthew Cavanaugh

Oblation bearers Gregory, Grace and Liam Whitworth-Neufeld.
Photo: Matthew Cavanaugh

The new bishop greets the congregation.
Photo: Matthew Cavanaugh

Deacon Virgilio Fortuna, at the Holy Eucharist
Photo: Matthew Cavanaugh

The Very Rev. Amy McCreath, Dean of the Cathedral Church of St. Paul, Boston, at the Holy Eucharist
Photo: Matthew Cavanaugh

Bishop Julia Whitworth, with Bishop Alan Gates (left) and the Rev. Dr. Karen Coleman (right), administering Holy Eucharist.
Photo: Matthew Cavanaugh

A powerful rendition of "Sweet Sweet Spirit" at the close of Holy Eucharist, with soloist Jonathan Gramling.
Photo: Matthew Cavanaugh

Bishop Julia Whitworth gives the blessing, with Archdeacons Chris Beukman and Pat Zifcak.
Photo: Matthew Cavanaugh

Bishop Mark Stevenson of the Diocese of Virginia, with Bishop Gayle Harris, retired suffragan of Massachusetts now serving as assistant bishop in Virginia.
Photo: Matthew Cavanaugh

Deacon Julian Fredie, in the joyful final procession.
Photo: Matthew Cavanaugh

Tricia Harvey and Bishop Alan Gates in the final procession.
Photo: Matthew Cavanaugh

Bishop Whitworth in the final procession.
Photo: Matthew Cavanaugh

Bishop Whitworth at the service's close.
Photo: Matthew Cavanaugh

Oct. 20, 2024: New bishop's seating at the Cathedral Church of St. Paul in Boston

Photo highlights from Evensong on Sunday, Oct. 20, 2024, at which the Rt. Rev. Julia E. Whitworth was seated at the Cathedral Church of St. Paul in Boston. The cathedral church and Old North Church in Boston presented the service together, as "peculiars"--not parishes but institutions under the direct authority of the bishop diocesan.

Members of the choir gather in Sproat Hall before the service.
Photo: David Rider

Dean Amy McCreath and members of the Cathedral Chapter gathered before the service.
Photo: David Rider

Anne Sheetz and Wayne Webster prepare to lead the procession as bearers of the iconic Old North Church lanterns.
Photo: David Rider

Dean Amy McCreath welcomes the congregation.
Photo: David Rider

Bishop Julia Whitworth awaits entry into the cathedral church.
Photo: David Rider

Bishop Whitworth bids entry into the cathedral church by making the traditional three knocks with her crozier.
Photo: David Rider

Bishop Whitworth is escorted by the welcoming procession into the church.
Photo: David Rider

Old North's vicar, the Rev. Dr. Matthew Cadwell, and the cathedral dean, the Very Rev. Amy McCreath, welcome the bishop.
Photo: David Rider

Bishop Whitworth takes her seat in the cathedra, the chair which is a symbol of her office. Pictured from left with Deacon Holly Hartman, Deacon Bob Greiner, Old North Church Vicar Matthew Cadwell and Cathedral Dean Amy McCreath.
Photo: David Rider

Directing the choir for the offertory anthem, "O blessed, holy Trinity," was Robert Sirota, who composed it for Bishop Whitworth's parish in Indianapolis (with text by Vicki Sirota). The choir comprised the Cathedral Schola, the choir of Old North Church and members of MagnificatBoston, a diocesan choir specializing in the singing of Evensong.
Photo: David Rider

The congregation joins in the singing.
Photo: David Rider

Hugh Bassett gives the first Scripture reading from Isaiah.
Photo: David Rider

Sujin Park gives the second Scripture reading from Ephesians.
Photo: David Rider

Bishop Whitworth preaching her first sermon at the Cathedral Church of St. Paul.
Photo: David Rider

Bishop Whitworth gives the blessing.
Photo: David Rider

Louise Mundinger, Director of Music at the Cathedral Church of St. Paul, in the final procession.
Photo: David Rider

Assistant Bishop Carol Gallagher in the final procession.
Photo: David Rider

Bishop Whitworth in the final procession.
Photo: David Rider

A well-wisher greets Bishop Whitworth after the service.
Photo: David Rider

Oct. 18, 2024: Lunch gathering with diocesan clergy

The consecration weekend began with a gathering of diocesan clergy with Presiding Bishop Michael Curry and Bishop-elect Julia Whitworth for lunchtime conversation about past and future leadership, keeping sabbath and bidding prayers for one another during times of transition.

Presiding Bishop Michael Curry arrives at the Hotel Commonwealth, with Fenway Park in the background.
Photo: David Rider

Bishop-elect Julia Whitworth arrives.
Photo: David Rider

Bishop-elect Whitworth and Presiding Bishop Curry share conversation with the clergy during a program moderated by the Rev. Dr. Karen Coleman, President of the Standing Committee.
Photo: David Rider

Bishop-elect Whitworth and Presiding Bishop Curry in conversation with the clergy.
Photo: David Rider

Diocesan clergy enjoyed time for table conversation with colleagues.
Photo: David Rider

October 23, 2024