LIGHT is at the end of the tunnel for the North East, the new Bishop of Durham promised in his first message to the region.

Justin Welby was formally enthroned in Durham Cathedral on Saturday, watched by church leaders, local dignitaries and friends.

And in his first sermon as the Bishop, he told his congregation the region was on the brink of opportunity.

He said the North East had once led the Western world in spiritual matters, and returning to that faith will help us find a way out of the recession.

“This is a time of opportunity,” the 55-year-old Bishop told the congregation. “The idols of our age have fallen, toppled by successive economic and political tempests. Those who claim authority and power are seen as hollow.

“What we face now is the conclusion of the financial collapse of 2008. That is nothing new for this area.

“In this very pulpit, in a sermon in 1922, N P Williams said, ‘The mysterious processes of the world’s economic and commercial life have descended in a particularly malignant way on the North East coast.

“‘Is not the grace of God plentiful enough to use times of material depression as times of spiritual revival?’ And as Christians we must answer, of course, it is the grace that God gives us to make the opportunities of this time.”

He went on: “We are called to follow in the charred footsteps of Cuthbert, of Aidan and of Chad. This region led Europe in spiritual and material renaissance in the past.

“And it will happen – of that I am utterly confident. The capacity exists.”

Bishop Welby was welcomed into the cathedral after knocking three times on the door with his staff.

He was met by Christine McDarmont, representing St Chad’s Bensham Community Project.

He then processed to the front of the church, where the mandate of the Archbishop of York was read out and he declared his faith.

Then, he was enthroned on his stall in the quire, as the choir joined their voices in song.

After being welcomed by applause from his congregation, the bishop gave his sermon and offered prayers.

The Eton and Cambridge-educated Bishop was consecrated at York Minster in October and welcomed to the Durham diocese with the traditional handing over of the falchion at Croft bridge, south of Darlington, on Friday.

He had spent last week travelling around the region meeting members of the diocese.

Bishop Welby has five children and spent 11 years in the oil industry, becoming group treasurer of Enterprise Oil PLC, before turning to the church.

After training in theology at Durham University, his first parish was in Warwickshire. He went on to become sub-dean of Coventry, and most recently Dean of Liverpool. He succeeds Bishop Tom Wright, who retired last year.