Hereford Boy Bishop

St Nicholas’ Day falls on December 6th and because he is patron saint of children, it was appropriate for this to be the chosen date to elect a Boy Bishop. In the past it was a common practice in many larger churches and Cathedrals to elect a chorister to act as Bishop for a short period in advent in a typical role-reversal custom whereby masters and servants swap places. Most of these practices ceased at the reformation but the custom still took place for many years in revived form at Hereford; a teenager was elected from the choristers and he took his throne on the Sunday near St Nicholas’ Day at the Choral Evensong service.  His reign lasted for three weeks and in this time he played an important part in services, wearing full episcopal regalia, in a tradition that here goes back to the thirteenth century.

Helpful Hints

In 2018 it was scheduled to be on Sunday December 9th but was cancelled at the end of November due to unforeseen circumstances and it hasn’t been held since. There are no current plans for the service though it will hopefully be reinstated someday in future- if you hear any rumours of a revival please let me know.

There are similar ceremonies at other churches around the country but this was one of the best established and known (see separate listing for the Salisbury Boy Bishop). If you enjoy a High Church style service, you’d have loved the Latin anthems – the choristers’ beautiful singing sent a tingle down my spine! There were activity packs to keep young children amused and there was a very welcoming atmosphere. Visitors needed to try to get there about half an hour early to get a good view.

In years when the first Sunday in December is Advent Sunday, the Boy Bishop ceremony would usually be on the second Sunday of the month. This happens when 1st, 2nd or 3rd December fall on a Sunday.

Click here for the Cathedral website : http://www.herefordcathedral.org/