Cathedral Chorister made Chorister Bishop to celebrate St Nicholas Day

One of Norwich Cathedral’s choristers was made a Chorister Bishop at a special Evensong to celebrate St Nicholas, the patron saint of children.

Reviving a custom from the Middle Ages, 13-year-old Sam Irvine, was made the Chorister Bishop at the Festal Evensong on St Nicholas’ Day.

The service was attended by the Bishop of Lynn, the Rt Revd Dr Jane Steen, who blessed Sam and presented him with a book of prayers, before Sam gave his homily in which he talked about how if everyone worked together the world would be a better place.

He said: “I know I am young, but I believe that if we all care about the same things - like fairness, kindness, helping the planet, and making sure everyone has a chance to live a good life - we can make the world a better place. Don’t wait for someone else to change things, take the lead and show others the way. We all have to do our part.”

The custom of Boy Bishop was widespread in the Middle Ages, when the Bishop of the Diocese would symbolically stand to one side on St Nicholas Day and allow a boy to take his place.

Traditionally, the boy would remain in his role until Holy Innocents’ Day on 28 December and the boy would lead his peers, usually fellow choristers, in the taking of all the services except the Mass.

The idea behind bringing back the custom of a child Bishop - known today as a Chorister Bishop - to Norwich Cathedral was to highlight the importance of young people.