On this day, USPG mission companion Andrew Proud was consecrated as the first Area Bishop of the Horn of Africa – giving him leadership of the Anglican Church in   a newly created episcopal   area covering Ethiopia, Eritrea, Djibouti, Somaliland and Somalia. The new role will give the church in the region more autonomy and power to respond to local needs.

Andrew has been based at St Matthew's Church, in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, since 2002.  Some of the churches he oversees are in the Gambella region that borders Sudan, including churches set up to provide help and encouragement for Sudanese refugees who fled civil war in their home country.

Speaking at the consecration service, Dr Mouneer Hana Anis, who is the Bishop in Egypt with North Africa and the Horn of Africa, paid tribute to Andrew's ministry and to the unwavering support of Andrew's wife Janice, prompting a resounding round of applause.

Bishop Mouneer urged his new area bishop to go on loving his people and identifying himself with them. Bishop Mouneer put it like this: ‘We need to stay in the midst of the sheep until we smell like them ! '

The Most Revd Clive Handford, Presiding Bishop of Jerusalem and the Middle East, presided over the joyful service.

Andrew said: ‘Please pray for Janice and I as we prepare for and move into this new phase of our lives and ministry. Janice and I both feel overwhelmed, inadequate and excited at the same time.'

USPG's Middle East Desk Officer, Tim Woods, spoke of the privilege at being present for this new beginning. He said: ‘The gospel is being preached and the Anglican Church is taking its place alongside the other great Christian traditions in Ethiopia. USPG is privileged to be able to support Andrew and Janice and, through them, to help build up the African leadership of this growing Anglican Church. Andrew may begin to smell like sheep, but there is nothing woolly about his vision for God's kingdom!'

Janice Proud said: ‘The consecration was a joyful occasion with representatives from many churches, embassies and NGOs, as well as Mothers' Union coordinators, church leaders and tutors and, of course, congregations from Addis Ababa and Gambella. We were greatly moved by the fact that so many family and friends travelled so far to be with us.'

Part of the sprawling Diocese of Egypt, the newly created Episcopal Area of the Horn of Africa will give the churches in the region more power to act locally.

Andrew and his wife Janice have been in Ethiopia with USPG since 2002.

Based at St Matthew's Church, in Addis Ababa, the couple have set up educational programmes for local children and provided support for Sudanese refugees, among other work.

Andrew, who was consecrated in April, said: ‘Please pray for Janice and me as we prepare for and move into this new phase of our lives and ministry. Janice and I both feel overwhelmed, inadequate and excited at the same time.'

The Anglican Church in Ethiopia has been given a further boost with the arrival of engineer and non-stipendary minister Michael Starr and his wife Margaret, from England.

The Starrs will be based in Ethiopia for two years. Michael has taken over from Andrew to become the chaplain of St Matthew's Church.

Unfortunately, Andrew is getting off to a slow start in his new role due to a serious accident, last October, in which he fell and broke several bones, some of which did not set correctly. Andrew is currently rehabilitating after corrective surgery.