Our St. Nicholas Bishop

The St. Nicholas “Child” Bishop

 Churches dedicated to St. Nicholas have an ancient tradition of appointing a Child Bishop. In cathedrals these were usually senior choir boys. We at  Gosforth St. Nicholas have slightly adapted this tradition and appoint a “St. Nicholas Bishop” every  year – boy or girl, choir member or otherwise! On  our Patronal Festival (always the Second Sunday of Advent – nearest to the Feast of St. Nicholas) we appoint our St. Nicholas bishop at the beginning of Parish Eucharist. All the children and young people present our Bishop with the appropriate regalia. The Bishop then helps with the Eucharist and preaches a sermon – which is always prepared by the young person alone. (We do not believe it necessary to "vet" what may be said – we trust our young people to take a responsible part in the leadership of our worship and our community.)  We are not play-acting or just “being nice to kids” , we are worshipping as a Christian family , a family in which all those baptised , of whatever age, play an important part.