Bishop Graham was pictured flying into battle with Snap the city dragon during a St George’s procession from St George’s Colegate to St Georges Tombland.
His impressive dragon-slaying moves were captured in a great photograph by the Revd Annie Blyth, assistant priest at the two Norwich churches.
The St George’s Day celebrations included a church service and confirmation at St George’s Colegate and refreshments at St George’s Tombland.
There were many more confirmations, and baptisms, at a prayerful and joyful Easter vigil service at Norwich Cathedral on the evening of Easter Saturday. Bishop Graham said: “During an incredible Easter Vigil, kindling of the Easter flame, lighting of the Paschal candle and Holy Communion, 12 people were baptised and 38 confirmed – many of them young adults.”
On Easter Sunday he preached and presided at the Cathedral’s main morning service.
Bishop Graham began Holy Week leading a Palm Sunday service at St Luke’s Church, Aylsham Road, Norwich.
Earlier in the month he was among more than 100 people at a packed evening prayer service in St Lukes, led by Brother Jean Marie of the Taize community in France. The monk also led two April teaching mornings at Norwich Cathedral for clergy and lay ministers.
At St Luke’s the bishop encouraged people to join the pilgrimage he will lead to Taize in July for young adults aged 18-35. After the service a curate who had been part of a previous pilgrimage described Taize as a “foretaste of heaven…just a joyous place.” Find details of how to join the pilgrimage here.
On the Monday of Holy Week clergy across the diocese were invited to Norwich Cathedral for the Chrism Eucharist, at which they renewed their ordination vows, and the oils to be used at baptisms, ordinations and for anointing the sick in the coming year were blessed and distributed.
On Maundy Thursday Bishop Graham joined King Charles and Queen Camilla at Durham Cathedral. During the ancient Royal Maundy service, commemorating Christ washing the feet of his disciples, His Majesty gave Maundy money to thank volunteers for their service to the Church and their communities. It was the first Royal Maundy service organised by the Bishop of Norwich in his new role as Lord High Almoner.
On Good Friday the bishop shared the first of five Easter reflections he recorded while in Jerusalem earlier this year. See them all here.
On the national and international stage Bishop Graham also wrote a piece for the Church Times about the plight of Palestinians and nature in the West Bank, and spoke in the House of Lords during the report stage of the Armed Forces Commissioner Bill.
After the death of Pope Francis he paid tribute to the leader of the world’s Roman Catholics and joined the Rt Revd Peter Collins, Bishop of East Anglia, at a requiem mass at Norwich Roman Catholic Cathedral. He signed a book of condolences on behalf of Anglicans in the Diocese of Norwich.
