Just two days following his consecration as Bishop of Thetford at Westminster Abbey, Bishop Ian was fully involved in parish life, attending the naming and dedication service of new lifeboats in Gorleston.
This was his first official job as Bishop of Thetford and the event took place on Sunday 1 October 2023.
The service was also attended by the Mayor of Great Yarmouth, Councillor Penny Carpenter and Revd Albert Cadmore, the chaplain at Great Yarmouth and Gorleston RNLI.
Bishop Ian blessed the lifeboats following a Sung Eucharist and Service of the Word.
The new Shannon Class all weather lifeboat has been named the ‘George and Frances Phelon’ and the Atlantic 85 inshore lifeboat has been named, the ‘John Rowntree’.