The service of investiture for the Bishop of New Hampshire began with three loud knocks on the door of St. Paul’s Church, Concord. The Rt. Rev. V. Gene Robinson spoke words from The Book of Occasional Services: “Open for me the gates of righteousness.” His predecessor, the Rt. Rev. Douglas E. Theuner, who is retiring, and the standing committee led the new diocesan to the altar, where he renewed his ordination vows to the Rt. Rev. Chilton R. Knudsen, Bishop of Maine and president of Province 1.

After passing the ceremonial crozier to Bishop Robinson, Bishop Theuner presented his successor with a personal crozier — a shepherd’s crook, carved from olive wood by a shepherd in Bethlehem. The simple staff has one embellishment: a gilded scene of the skyline of Jerusalem.

The moment Bishop Robinson was seated in his cathedra, the estimated congregation of 700 was joined in its applause by simultaneous organ crescendos and peals from the church’s bell tower.

“This is going to be a great adventure,” Bishop Robinson said in acknowledgment.