Coventry Cathedral has welcomed its first female bishop, the Right Revd Sophie Jelley.

Bishop Jelley previously served as Bishop of Doncaster. On Saturday, she was installed during a special service, taking on the spiritual leadership of 201 parishes across Coventry and Warwickshire.

The service was attended MPs, councillors and business leaders. It began with Bishop Jelley being welcomed by three school pupils from the diocese, symbolising the Church’s connection with the next generation.

Escorted by the Archdeacon of Canterbury, Bishop Jelley led the Litany of Reconciliation from the cathedral ruins, before entering through the main doors, which were thrown open in welcome.

After taking oaths of allegiance and obedience, she received the Diocesan Crozier, cured staff which had been left on the High Altar by her predecessor, the Rt Revd Dr Christopher Cocksworth, who left the diocese in November last year.

A choir, comprised of pupils from eight local schools performed “Sing,” a piece composed by Gary Barlow and Andrew Lloyd Webber. Bishop Jelley was also presented with gifts honouring diocese’s heritage, including a jar of honey from a local farmer and a goose quill from the Shakespeare Birthplace Trust.

Rt Rev Sophie Jelley is married to Chris Jelley, and has three grown-up children. She was raised in Brighton, before studying Theology and Religious Studies at the University of Leeds.

She told the congregation she was looking forward to sharing “the story of God’s love with the people of Coventry and Warwickshire.”