THE new Bishop of Durham will be enthroned today after formally entering his parish by marking an ancient tradition yesterday.

Bishop Justin Welby walked across the Tees at Croft, south of Darlington, from the Diocese of Ripon to be formally welcomed into the Durham diocese.

Several hundred spectators lined the route to watch him being greeted by Darlington mayor Lee Vasey half way across the bridge, on the road between Northallerton and Darlington.

Today the new bishop, 56, is being enthroned at Durham Cathedral. By doing so he becomes the fourth most senior figure in the church of England.

Yesterday’s ceremony at midday has its origins in medieval times when Sir John Conyers is said to have slain a dragon or “worm” that was terrorising the district of Sockburn, now Croft.

Conyers, apparently wearing a blade studded suit of armour, set out and slew the dragon with his falchion, or sword. The encounter is described in the Bowes Manuscript in the British Library and the falchion is on public display in the treasury of Durham Cathedral. As Sockburn was the most southerly point in the Durham diocese, the sword was ceremonially presented by the Lord of the Manor to each new Bishop of Durham when he entered his diocese for the first time at the local ford or the nearby Croft-on-Tees Bridge.

This custom died out in the early 19th century, but was revived by Bishop Jenkins in 1984 with the mayor of Darlington doing the honours.

Yesterday Coun Vasey said: “It is a real honour to be part of this ancient traditional welcome and history in the making.”

The enthronement service is at 11am today at Durham Cathedral.

Composer Michael Berkeley’s Advent Anthem, premiered last year at Liverpool Cathedral, will be performed at the enthronement. Clergy, parishioners and dignitaries from across the Durham diocese and beyond will attend.

Bishop Justin is expected to follow the long-held tradition of banging on the cathedral door three times with a silver staff before it is opened to him.