Lord Williams of Oystermouth joins Bishop of Monmouth consecration service
The former Archbishop of Canterbury Dr Rowan Williams has taken part in a service in Cardiff to consecrate the new Bishop of Monmouth.
Richard Pain, the former Archdeacon of Monmouth, was consecrated on his 57th birthday at Llandaff Cathedral.
Lord Williams of Oystermouth, who was Bishop of Monmouth before his election as Archbishop of Canterbury, gave the address at the service.
Bishop Pain was elected as the Monmouth Diocese's 10th bishop in July.
It followed the retirement in June of Dominic Walker, who served as Bishop of Monmouth for 10 years.
The Archbishop of Wales, Dr Barry Morgan, was led into the cathedral by a long procession of bishops and senior clergy, church registrars and chancellors and representatives from other Christian denominations.
Following his consecration, the new bishop will be enthroned at Newport Cathedral on 18 October.
He was elected bishop having served as Archdeacon of Monmouth for the past five years.
Bishop Pain has served in the diocese for nearly 30 years - as vicar in Monmouth for 10 years and also vicar in Risca, Six Bells and Cwmtillery and as a curate in Caldicot.
Following his election in July, the bishop-designate said among the issues which needed to be tackled was declining church membership.
"We need to do something about that," he said.
"Our relevance for society is very important and we need to build up better community links and encourage a sense of value and spirituality that people will find attractive."