The Bishop of Manchester took his seat in the House of Lords on Monday.
Rt Rev David Walker swore the oath of allegiance to the Queen in a thinly attended, socially distanced chamber due to the coronavirus crisis.
Bishop David has been Bishop of Manchester since 2013 and was previously Bishop of Dudley.
During that time he has helped lead the Greater Manchester area through its response to the arena terrorist attack of 2017 and worked closely with civic and other partners to address the plight of homeless people. He has become a regular voice on radio and TV, contributing to debates on religion and ethics.
Bishop David will continue as Diocesan Bishop of Manchester, with Lords responsibilities now forming part of his ongoing workload.
The Diocese of Manchester said he will also represent a particular 'portfolio' in the House of Lords; becoming an official spokesperson on subjects including housing, poverty and inequality, international trade, and issues that impact on the life of people in Greater Manchester and the Northern Powerhouse.
Bishop David said in a statement: "It is a great honour to be entrusted with the responsibility of becoming a member of the House of Lords. I am grateful for the prayers and best wishes of people across the Diocese of Manchester as I prepare to take on this new role.
"I am looking forward to being a new voice for the Manchester city region; to engaging in debates on matters of public interest from a Christian perspective and to joining other members of the House of Lords in holding the Government of the day to account."
