| Where: | Salisbury, Wiltshire at the Cathedral |
| When: | Weekend nearest 6th December |
| Time: | At Evensong (times vary 3 pm - 5.30pm- double check the event website) |
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 for a spell. Most of these practices ceased at the reformation but the custom still takes place in revived form at Salisbury Cathedral in a ceremony reconstructed from medieval practices. The Chorister Bishop wears replica episcopal robes and leads the prayers, receives the collection and delivers their own sermon – the reign lasts for the day.
Helpful Hints
In 2024 it should be on Sunday 8th December at Evensong (date and time to be confirmed). The best view of the ceremony is from within the Choir, but you need to arrive early as many of the seats there are reserved for participants and honoured guests. If you want a photo, the best chance is just after the ceremony when the official pictures are taken.
For the very first time in 2015 it was a girl Chorister Bishop . The ceremony was on Saturday 7th December in 2013 so day of the week may vary a little from year to year.The timing of the event has also varied by a couple of hours over recent years so I’d advise it’s wise to double-check near the time as it’s easily found on the events list of the Cathedral website.
Look out for the tomb of the medieval Boy Bishop who died in office – it’s in the nave near William Longspee’s tomb.
Other Boy Bishop ceremonies exist in the UK, notably the one at Hereford (see separate article for details) but the Salisbury custom is a very well established one. All are welcome.
Click here for the Cathedral website : http://www.salisburycathedral.org.uk/index.php
Click here for an up-to-date first-hand account: https://www.slow-travel.uk/post/boy-bishop-ceremony-salisbury-cathedral
I recently attended the Chorister Bishop Ceremony and thought people may be interested to read about it?
https://www.slow-travel.uk/post/boy-bishop-ceremony-salisbury-cathedral
Thanks Sarah,
Nice article- and useful to have an up-to-date account, especially as some events have changed a little post-covid.I’ve put a link to your article in the Helpful Hints section so it’s easier for readers to spot. It’s a magical event isn’t it, with the voices soaring up from the choir in the magnificent building?
Best wishes,
Averil