THE MINISTRY of the first Bishop of the diocese of West Yorkshire & the Dales, the Rt Revd Nick Baines, has been inaugurated at York Minster.

Bishop Baines, who was previously the Bishop of Bradford, is now the Bishop of Leeds, and diocesan bishop for the new diocese, which was created by amalgamating the dioceses of Bradford, Wakefield, and Ripon & Leeds.

Three thousand worshippers filled York Minster on Sunday to witness Bishop Baines take up his new appointment, and celebrate Pentecost. The Archbishop of York, Dr Sentamu, presided.

"Pentecost is God's Spirit unleashed," the Archbishop said. "May the wind of the Spirit drive the mission of this new diocese forward."

The new diocese, which was officially created on Easter Day, was commended by the Queen. In a letter, published in Sunday's order of service, she described the diocese as a "clear example of how the Church is responding to Christ's call to proclaim the gospel afresh in a rapidly changing society".

After the service, Bishop Baines said: "The task of shaping this new diocese in the years ahead is enormous and eye-wateringly complex, but it also gives us great creative scope for rethinking how we do things.

"I'm up for the challenge, and, given people's enthusiasm at York Minster on Sunday, I know the people of West Yorkshire and the Dales are, too."

Bishop Baines will be formally enthroned at each of the diocese's cathedrals - Wakefield, Ripon, and Bradford - in July.