Photo copyright: Neil Turner
On Wednesday 25 March, Bishop Jonathan Gibbs, the Bishop of Rochester, and other members of the Diocese of Rochester were delighted to be able to attend the installation of Archbishop Sarah, as the 106th Archbishop of Canterbury.
They were among the more than two thousand people from across the country and around the world who came to the service at Canterbury Cathedral, which took place on the Feast of the Annunciation.
The service included many symbolic moments, beginning with Archbishop Sarah knocking three times on the Cathedral's West Door with her staff and invited in by a group of young people from John Wallis Academy, Ashford.
Photo: Ven Sandra McCalla, Archdeacon of Rochester, joins other members of clergy from across the Church of England at the service.
Archbishop Sarah went on to declare her oaths and sign an ecumenical covenant, confirming her commitment to working in partnership with other Christian denominations through Churches Together in England.
Later in the service, she received her pastoral staff and was placed in the Chair of St Augustine, as the Dean of Canterbury Cathedral invited everyone to welcome their "...newly installed Archbishop."
Bishop Jonathan reflected on the diverse and moving service saying:
"It was a wonderful and joyful occasion - a real sense of God's call in Archbishop Sarah's life.
"Wonderful too that we should be meeting on the Feast of the Annunciation, with that call to Mary, and that sense of saying 'Here I am', and responding to God's call with great humilty and joy."
He added:
"We had musicians from Africa and Canterbury Cathedral's musicians were on top form. It was wonderful for me too to be standing almost next to St Augustine's throne and surrounded by bishops from across the Anglican Communion.
"It was wonderful to be able to support Archbishop Sarah in that special day."