Anglican from Nigeria installs bishop

A powerful Anglican leader from Nigeria installed a bishop to lead the network of conservative U.S. parishes he created, despite a last-minute plea from the archbishop of Canterbury that the Nigerian cancel his visit.

Archbishop Peter Akinola of Nigeria was already in the United States when Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams’ spokesman revealed that Williams had tried to intercede.

The installation ceremony at a nondenominational chapel in Woodbridge, Va., went ahead as planned: Bishop Martyn Minns, a former Episcopal clergyman, was given full leadership of the Convocation of Anglicans in North America, which Akinola started in December as an alternative to the liberal-leaning Episcopal Church.