City feels like home, says new Bishop of Coventry

The new Bishop of Coventry has told how she wants to see congregations grow at churches in the area and how the city already feels like home.

The Right Reverend Sophie Jelley was officially installed as Coventry's first female bishop in February and moved to the Midlands in May. She began work two weeks ago.

"To see churches flourish and grow is something that I've been involved in since I became a Christian when I was a teenager." She said she had a strong commitment that all churches with the right support can grow," said Bishop Jelley.

She took on the role after Dr Christopher Cocksworth left to become the Dean of Windsor.

But Bishop Jelley added: "It's God who gives the growth and we can't always predict that."

Speaking to BBC Radio CWR, she described how she was ordained in 1997 and in many of the roles she has taken on since, she has been the first woman in the post.

"I've been so warmly welcomed that it's been received as a good thing, I think, so far," she said.

She added: "Just the warmth of the people has been tremendous and I think that's not so much about gender but just the warmth of the Midlands people really."

Before she became its bishop, she had been to Coventry once in her life, she said.

Coventry's 20th Century cathedral stands alongside the ruins of the original Cathedral of St Michael, which was built between the late 14th and 15th centuries.

The old cathedral was destroyed during the World War Two blitz, in 1940.

She said the first time she saw the cathedral, she was in "awe", adding: "Nothing can prepare you for the story as you walk through from the ruins to the new cathedral."

Remembering how she stood in front of Coventry's brightly-coloured Baptistery Window, Bishop Jelley said it reminded her of a place of worship at Sussex University called The Meeting House.

She said her father, as a mature student, took her there regularly when she was aged five or six.

"I loved it in there and it had a similar feel," she said.

"It was very odd, as if God had been weaving the story of my life… As I stood in front of that window, I felt like I was home."

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