Britain’s first Syro-Malabar bishop ordained in front of 12,000-strong crowd in Preston

Oct 12, 2016

PRESTON: Britain’s Syro-Malabar community has taken a major step forward with the ordination of its first bishop.

In a ceremony attended by over 12,000 people, Cardinal George Alencherry, the Archbishop of the Syro-Malabar Church, ordained Mar Joseph Srampickal.

The ordination took place at at Preston North End’s stadium, Deepdale. The eparchy – an area under a bishop, similar to a diocese – has been given a cathedral in Preston.

The Syro-Malabar rite Catholic community, one of the Eastern Catholic churches, originates in India. It traces its origins back to St Thomas the Apostle. Nearly 40,000 Syro-Malabar rite Catholics live in England, Scotland and Wales, served by 23 priests.

Bishop Srampickal, whose title is now Bishop of the Eparchy of Great Britain of the Syro-Malabar Church, was born in India and was previously vice-rector of Propaganda Fide College in Rome

The Lancashire Evening Post reported that some attendees came from as far as Australia. Bishop Michael Campbell of Lancaster was in attendance.--Catholic Herald