THE first female Bishop of London – one of the most senior figures in the Church of England – joined sisters at an Oxfordshire convent.

The Rt Rev Dame Sarah Mullally (right) visited the Community of St Mary the Virgin in Wantage to begin her new role as Bishop Visitor.

Bishop Sarah, who is the Church’s third most senior Bishop, formally took up her new position at a service at the Denchworth Road convent, on Saturday morning, where she joined the sisters in the Chapel of St Mary Magdalene.

She said: “It is a great privilege and a joy to be invited to take up the role of Bishop Visitor at one of the Church of England’s religious houses. The task is to make sure everything is in place for the Community to flourish, to be the best that it can.

“I’m a friend with whom the sisters can reflect on where they are as a community and on what God is calling on them to do.”

Sister Stella, Sister in Charge, said: “Bishop Sarah offers us an oversight of church life, while enabling and encouraging us to continue and grow as a religious community.”

Bishop Sarah was installed as Bishop of London on May 12. She was previously the UK’s Chief Nursing Officer from 1999 to 2004. She became a Dame Commander of the British Empire in 2005 in recognition of her outstanding contribution to nursing and midwifery.