A BREAK in tradition marked the enthronement of the new Bishop of Chelmsford, the Rt Rev John Gladwin.The former Bishop of Guildford was welcomed at Chelmsford Cathedral on Saturday at a ceremony attended by dignitaries from across Essex.

A BREAK in tradition marked the enthronement of the new Bishop of Chelmsford, the Rt Rev John Gladwin.

The former Bishop of Guildford was welcomed at Chelmsford Cathedral on Saturday at a ceremony attended by dignitaries from across Essex.

Traditionally the new Bishop enters the cathedral by knocking on the west door with his crosier but Bishop John was accompanied into the building by his wife Lydia and a group of children.

The innovation continued with a reception with a jazz band in the cathedral for all guests after the service.

Bishop John takes over the second largest diocese in the Church of England with more than 600 churches and 500 clergy.

It covers all of Essex and five East London boroughs.

Bishop John, a keen beekeeper, holds many posts including chair of the board of Christian Aid, a member of the Archbishops' Council and chair of the Ministry Division of the Church of England. He has been a member of the General Synod since 1990.

Bishop John has been a bishop in Guildford since 1994 and succeeds the Rt Rev John Perry to be the ninth bishop of Chelmsford since the diocese was founded in 1914.

He is also the fifth successive Chelmsford Bishop called John.

Earlier this year he told the EADT: "A major challenge I hope to face is working with change and making the diversity of our culture a plus for the mission of the church."

"We need to engage more deeply with the wider community at a time of development and growth in east London and Essex."