The Bishop of Norwich's Enthronement

Enthronement Ceremony for the new Bishop of Norwich

In the first months of broadcasting by Anglia Television the outside broadcast team filmed the enthronement of Launcelot Fleming as Bishop of Norwich at Norwich Cathedral in the presence of Princess Margaret on 18 December 1959. This reel is described as ‘trims’ and contains film shot from various positions to provide different views of the event to be edited together later, but not all in chronological order on this roll. The film is silent until 13:11 when organ music begins to accompany the scenes, followed by recorded comments between the Anglia filming crew and some actuality sound. Scenes filmed outside in the Cathedral Close include the processions of church, civic and state dignitaries, watching crowds, the arrival by car of Princess Margaret who is greeted by the Dean of Norwich, and the new Bishop knocking on the West Door with his pastoral staff. Some shots show a platform near the West Door with two film cameramen with their cameras on tripods above, and still photographers below. Other scenes were filmed inside the Cathedral looking out through the West Door to the Close where the processions of people proceed into the Cathedral. The closed doors are opened to admit the new Bishop after he knocks on the door. There are good views of the congregation around the nave and the processions including choristers. Short sequences of the Bishop during the service were filmed from above. Sound (organ music) begins at on this reel at 13:11 accompanying scenes of the procession of clergy in the Close and into the Cathedral, with views of the crowd outside. Two gentlemen arrive in top hats, and the civic processions are seen again. More scenes follow of the civic processions and the clergy procession into the Cathedral and people arriving including Princess Margaret. Some of these scenes have actual sound. A man with a home movie camera appears at 17:28. From 16:13 the sound includes comments by a member of the Anglia filming crew starting with facts about the new Bishop, then one side of conversation with Geoff and with Peter Godden about camerawork and microphone noise. He also identifies Princess Margaret, perhaps for the benefit of a cameraman who needs to focus on her instantly as she enters the Cathedral “I can see her, nice easy one, fur coat and hat”.

Featured Buildings

Norwich Cathedral

Keywords

Church of England; Ceremonies; Royalty

Background Information

Launcelot Fleming was the first Norwich Bishop to use the ancient throne for 400 years. EAFA also holds BBC East film of this event. A Pathe news story of this event is online at http://www.britishpathe.com/video/bishop-enthroned