On Monday 26th October 2015 the Bishop of Gloucester, Rt Revd Rachel Treweek, was introduced to the House of Lords by the Archbishop of Canterbury and the Bishop of London.
The first female bishop to take her seat in the Lords under the terms of the 2015 Lords Spiritual (Women) Act, her introduction was met with applause by those present. Pictures of the introduction are below and a video of the short ceremony can be viewed here.
The Bishop of Gloucester enters the Lords chamber holding her Writ of Summons, accompanied by her two sponsors, the Archbishop of Canterbury and the Bishop of London. After bowing to the Cloth of Estate they proceed to the Table.
The Bishop of Gloucester hands her Writ of Summons to the Reading Clerk at the Table of the House.
The Writ of Summons is read out by the Clerk.
The Bishop of Gloucester takes the oath of allegiance, holding a copy of the New Testament in her right hand.
She then signs the Test Roll and an undertaking to abide by the House of Lords Code of Conduct.
The Bishop of Gloucester, accompanied by the Archbishop of Canterbury and the Bishop of London, make their way to the Bishops’ Benches, pausing to face the Woolsack and bow again to the Cloth of Estate.
The Bishop of Gloucester shakes hands with the Lord Speaker, seated on the Woolsack.
The Bishop of Gloucester then takes her seat alongside the other Lords Spiritual, as the House welcomes her with applause.
Before her introduction, the Bishop of Gloucester with the Archbishop of Canterbury and the Bishop of London in the Bishops’ Robing Room in the House of Lords.
Coverage of the Introduction in the Church Times (r) and Church of England Newspaper (l), above. MPs & Peers tweets, below.
The Church of England in Parliament 
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