In a momentous ceremony at the Cathedral of St Jago de la Vega in Spanish Town, St Catherine, the Anglican Diocese of Jamaica and the Cayman Islands welcomed its 15th Lord Bishop, Right Reverend Leon Paul Golding, on Sunday. The liturgy of induction, investiture, and enthronement began with three symbolic knocks on the cathedral door by Golding, a former suffragan bishop of Montego Bay. Upon entering, he was greeted by a congregation of clergy and laypeople who had elected him during a special synod in March 2025. Adorned in a golden cape and mitre bearing the diocesan emblem, Golding sought permission to enter the church, a tradition followed by his predecessors. The ceremony included prayers for the church, the nation, and Christian causes, culminating in his installation as the spiritual leader of the diocese. Chancellor Zaila McCalla and Registrar Rev Peter DePass officiated the reading of letters conferring episcopal rights and duties. Outgoing Lord Bishop Howard Gregory passed the pastoral staff, a symbol of Christian leadership, to Golding. The service featured hymns such as Noel Dexter’s Psalm 23 and Te Deum Laudamus, accompanied by a fanfare of drums and applause. In his inaugural sermon, Golding emphasized unity within the diverse Christian denominations, quoting 1 Corinthians 12:12-14 and the hymn Summoned by the God who made us. He urged church workers to collaborate with governmental and non-governmental organizations in serving communities. The service included scripture readings by Golding’s daughter LeeAnne and Vincent Lawrence, with Deacon Anna-Lise Wisdom proclaiming the gospel. Representatives from the Roman Catholic and Methodist churches, including Archbishop Kenneth Richards and Rev Wayneford McFarlane, also participated. Music was led by the Diocesan Festival Choir, St Hilda’s Diocesan High School Choir, St Jago High School Choir, and Philippians Steel Band, showcasing Jamaican composers and traditional hymns. Golding, ordained a deacon in 1984 and a priest in 1985, has served in various churches across Kingston, St Andrew, and St James. He was consecrated as a suffragan bishop in 2012 and assumed the role of canonical administrator on January 1, 2025, following Gregory’s retirement. Married to Lauren, Golding has three children actively involved in the church. The diocese will convene an elective assembly in November to determine his successor as bishop of Montego Bay.