Bishop Jonathan said: "I long for this diocese to explore what it means to seek the Kingdom in, with and under Christ. Serving those who are both spiritually poor - needing the forgiveness of sins and the hope of new life - and economically poor - physically poor, hungry, a refugee, or putting life back together from the rubble. Of course the phrase 'good news to the poor' embraces it all.

"We will need each one of us, those whose instincts are to go for spiritual poverty and those whose instincts are to roll up their sleeves and serve at the Foodbank. For Christ calls us all to seek and serve his Kingdom, to build signs of new life, signs of anticipation of that coming Kingdom now, here. This isn't the work of one party within the Church, this is the work of the Church, the work of the Kingdom.

"Christian life is a contemplative action, or if you like an active contemplation. Some will emphasise this, some will emphasise that. But today I want to say that the Church is called to proclaim in word and deed 'good news to the poor' and, in raising up the poor, to receive the voice and ministry from the poor, to be changed by their perspective, the learning of those in very different circumstances.

"It is unacceptable in God's world and in our nation that a quarter of children live in poverty and that inequality between rich and poor grows wider almost every week. This is beyond politics. This is the work of the Church, to speak truth to power, and that the first place in God's heart goes to the least in the world's eyes.

"We have a gospel for the whole creation, for the whole world, for society and for the peoples of this world, for a world so full of promise yet torn apart by violence. Don't just mull it over, don't just write endless papers about it, do something about it in Christ's name. Join in with works of transformation and justice wherever they pop up.

"As disciples of Jesus on Maundy Thursday, let's receive again that we are the needy to whom Jesus comes, we are those who are a work in progress, and we are called - not to do some provisional, or preliminary or less than profound task. We are here to do the work of the Kingdom, until that Kingdom comes on earth as it is in heaven. Until that day, rededicate yourselves for nothing less than a whole gospel for the whole world for the whole of Christ's glory, even in us."

Each of the ministers present in the cathedral - Anna Chaplains, Anna Friends, Readers, licensed lay ministers, deacons, priests and bishops - stood in turn to rededicate themselves as ministers. Samuel Collinson was the child chosen to ask each of the three bishops present if they would like to reaffirm their specific ministries.

Worshippers were then able to share in bread and soup made by the cathedral's Canons as they continued to enjoy each other's company over lunch.