CLERGYMEN and women from across the county gathered at Chichester Cathedral yesterday for the annual blessing of the oils.
The Bishop of Chichester, the Rt Rev Dr Martin Warner, led the ceremony, which is traditionally held in Easter week each year.
The special service is known as Chrism Eucharist and is held to get the oils ready for use throughout the year. The ceremony requires a number of the local clergy to attend to witness the blessing.
The oils will be used throughout the year as part of sacraments and blessings.
During the ceremony, the bishop recites a passage, which reads: “And now we give you thanks, because by your Holy Spirit, you anointed your only son to be servant of all, and ordained that he should enter, into his kingdom through suffering.
“In your wisdom and love you call your Church to serve the world, to share in Christ’s suffering and to reveal his glory.”
The oils are kept in the cathedral. For more details about the ceremony visit churchofengland.org/prayer-worship.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here