DAME Sarah Mullally (53), a former nurse, was installed as the Bishop of Crediton in a welcome service at a packed Exeter Cathedral on Saturday, September 12.

She was greeted with resounding applause from the congregation when she was presented by Rt Rev Robert Atwell, the Bishop of Exeter.

In her sermon, she said Christians must do more than just talk about compassion – they must demonstrate it, with action towards refugees, the sick and the hungry.

She was consecrated in July in Canterbury Cathedral by the Archbishop of Canterbury, the Most Reverend Justin Welby alongside the next Bishop of Gloucester, Rachel Treweek.

Bishop Sarah became the fourth female bishop in the UK and the first in Devon.

Dame Sarah had a distinguished service in the NHS before ordination, culminating in her appointment as the government’s Chief Nursing Officer for England in 1999, when she was the youngest person to be appointed to the post.

She was ordained in 2001 and served her curacy in St Saviour’s Battersea Fields, initially as a self-supporting minister. She left her post as Chief Nursing Officer in 2004 to take up full time ministry becoming a Team Rector in Sutton, Surrey in 2006. In 2012 she was installed as Canon Treasurer at Salisbury Cathedral.

She was made a Dame Commander of the British Empire in 2005 in recognition of her outstanding contribution to nursing and midwifery.

Dame Sarah said she was delighted and humbled by her appointment.

The Bishop of Exeter, the Rt Revd Robert Atwell, said he was thrilled to welcome Sarah to Devon.

He said: “Sarah will enrich the life of the church in Devon enormously."

She began her ministry the next day (Sunday, September 13), when she attended the ordination service where Bishop Robert ordained 16 people to serve as new clergy across the diocese.

As Bishop of Crediton, Bishop Sarah will primarily look after east and north Devon, though in common with the Bishop of Plymouth, she will minister across the whole of the Exeter Diocese, which covers virtually all of the county.

Among the first to greet her and extend congratulations following the service at Exeter Cathedral was the Mayor of Crediton, Cllr Frank Letch and Crediton Mayoress, Mrs Natalia Letch.

by Alan Quick