The Liberal Catholic Apostolic Church

On Sunday 23 November at Golders Green Unitarian Church, London, the Metropolitan Primate Mar Joannes was officially enthroned as Archbishop of Great Britain of the Apostolic Episcopal Church and to his office in the LCAC by Archbishop Bertil Persson, Emeritus Primate of the Apostolic Episcopal Church, assisted by Archbishop Philip Lewis, Primate of the Ethiopian Coptic Orthodox Church, Archbishop Paget Mack of the Franciscan Order of St Benedict the Moor (representing AEC Primate Archbishop Francis Spataro), and Bishops Leila Boyer (Bishop Templar), Mar Andreas (LCAC) and Mar Alexei (LCAC).  The service followed the rite of the Apostolic Episcopal Church and the Mass was concelebrated.

The Metropolitan was also presented with the degree of Doctor of Divinity of St Ephrem's Institute of Eastern Church Studies in recognition of his "outstanding works on Church History". The degree was the last ever to be awarded by the Institute after its thirty-four years of activity. He was further admitted as a member of the Order of Corporate Reunion, in which he is Rector Pro-Provincial of Canterbury.

In addition, the bishops present at the service exchanged consecrations sub conditione as a gesture of unity between their churches. Archbishops Persson and Spataro (in absentia) were admitted as Knights Grand Cross of the Valiant Order of St John the Baptist, and Archbishops Persson, Spataro (in absentia), Mack and Lewis, and Mar Alexei, were presented with the degree of Doctor of Divinity jure dignitatis of European-American University.

The service has particular resonance since it was the Apostolic Episcopal Church that provided the mandate for the consecration of Mar Georgius in 1944, and thus was the moving force that set in place many events that are now part of the history of the Ancient Catholic Church, the LCAC and the wider independent sacramental movement.

We thank all those who attended the service, some of whom travelled long distances, for their assistance, support and warm fellowship.

Abp. Persson and Mar Alexei

Opening of the service - Abps. Mack and Lewis present the candidate

Abp. Mack reads the Epistle

Abp. Persson consecrates Mar Joannes

Abp. Mack consecrates Mar Joannes

Abp. Lewis consecrates Mar Joannes

Bp. Boyer consecrates Mar Joannes

Mar Alexei consecrates Mar Joannes

Abp. Persson consecrates Mar Andreas

Abp. Persson consecrates Mar Alexei

Abp. Mack consecrates Mar Andreas

Abp. Mack consecrates Mar Alexei

Mar Joannes consecrates Bp. Boyer

Abp. Persson delivers the sermon

Mar Joannes introduces the presentation ceremony

Mar Joannes receives the degree of Doctor of Divinity of St Ephrem's Institute

The bishops concelebrate the Mass

Abp. Persson enthrones Mar Joannes

Homage of the bishops

Mr Richard Hadingham, Senior Lay Member of the LCAC, signs the certificates

Assembled clergy after the service

Monsignor Adrian Glover, VG (wearing the mantle of the Valiant Order of St John the Baptist), with Abp. Mack

The bishops enjoy fellowship after the service

Abp. Persson with Monsignor Glover

Abp. Persson with Mar Joannes

Mar Joannes after the service