The Bishop of London, Dr Richard Chartres, presided over the ceremony - leading prayers and welcoming the new Archdeacon to his post.

The post of Archdeacon of London is one of the oldest in the Diocese with particular responsibility for the finances and administration of churches in the City of London Deanery.

As Archdeacon of London, Mr Meara will play a crucial role in the City reaching out to the 350,000 people who come into London to work every day and raising the profile of City churches.

He plans to extend the vibrant culture of church services and events already on offer in the capital and to establish a City churches festival to celebrate faith in the City.

"At a time of creeping secularisation and worldwide recession, our challenge is to renew our confidence in the spiritual energy we can bring to the City of London," he said.

"I want our churches to be places where the Gospel message is shared and where local communities, both business and residential, feel welcomed and affirmed.

“I look forward to the friendship and partnership of the Bishop of London, the Area Dean, the City Corporation, my fellow clergy and laity within the City, and seek to be an enabler and an encourager amongst them.”

Mr Meara will remain Rector of St Bride’s Fleet Street where plans have been made to diminish his workload and to provide the extra support which will make it possible for him to assume his new responsibilities.

Before coming to St Bride’s in 2000, Mr Meara spent all his previous ministry within the Oxford Diocese, twice serving as an Area Dean, and being made an Honorary Canon of Christ Church Cathedral, Oxford in 1997.