Monday October 22, 2012

New bishop of Anglicans installed

In a ceremony steeped in tradition, the Anglican Church here received a new head when the Right Reverend Rennis Ponniah was installed as its new bishop.

The almost three-hour-long service at St Andrew’s Cathedral was attended by more than 2,500 people, including dignitaries, politicians, leaders of other Christian denominations and Anglican clergy from all over the world.

President Tony Tan Keng Yam and his wife Mary, both Anglicans, were present, as were MPs Lawrence Wong and Christopher De Souza, and former politicians Seet Ai Mee and Lim Hwee Hua.

Bishop Ponniah, who is married with four children, will be the ninth Bishop of Singapore.

The 57-year-old was previously the vicar of St John’s-St Margaret’s Church in Dover Avenue and takes over as bishop from Dr John Chew, who retired this month after turning 65.

Saturday’s ceremony began with the singing of old hymns and a processional of 150 Anglican clergy members from Singapore and abroad into the main sanctuary of the cathedral, called the nave.

Archbishop of the province of South-East Asia Bolly Lapok then gave a sermon of advice and encouragement, describing Bishop Ponniah’s new role as one that was “manifold and as bewilderingly complex as Singapore is”.

Archbishop Lapok said the diversity of the Anglican diocese here would mean that many groups of believers would want their bishop to play different roles, but that his main role was to be the overseer of the flock. — The Straits Times / Asia News Network