The Rt. Rev. Herbert Thompson, Bishop of Southern Ohio, served as chief consecrator for the new bishop coadjutor of Southern Virginia, the Rt. Rev. David Conner Bane, Jr., Aug. 30 in Hampton, Va. Fr. Bane was formerly rector of Christ Church, Dayton, Ohio.

Acting for an ailing Bishop Browning, Bishop Thompson as preacher drew a chuckle from the crowd of more than 2,000 when he said "I can be Presiding Bishop for a day." Bishop Thompson referred to the election for Presiding Bishop when he finished second among five candidates[TLC, Aug. 3].

The service was held at the Convocation Center of Hampton University, which "goes way back," in the words of diocesan treasurer Frank Hawkins, Jr. Co-consecrators were the Rt. Rev. Robert Atkinson, retired Bishop of West Virginia and assistant Bishop of Virginia; the Most Rev. Orland Lindsay, Archbishop of the West Indies and Bishop of the North East Carribean and Aruba; the Rt. Rev. Kenneth Price, Jr., Suffragan Bishop of Southern Ohio; and the Rt. Rev. Frank Vest, Jr., Bishop of Southern Virginia. The Rt. Rev. C. Charles Vache, retired Bishop of Southern Virginia, read the consents of the bishops.

Eighteen bishops, including an ELCA representative and a Roman Catholic, participated in the laying on of hands. Among the oblation bearers were the new bishop's wife, Alice, his twin daughters, son, and another daughter.

The cross and ring symbolizing the bishop's office were designed and executed by Verson Wilson and Carl Burris, and made of gold and silver donated by the people of Southern Virginia. The yellow, green, rose, and white gold contains images of wheat for the true bread of life, the two rivers meeting near Christ Church in Dayton, and the grapevine as a metaphor of the Hebrew people.

In addition to gifts of vestments, crozier, and oil, Bishop Bane received a T- shirt from the youth of the Diocese of Southern Virginia.