Slideshow: Hundreds attend cathedral dedication service

The congregation at the inaugaration of St. Alfonsa Cathedral for the Syro Malabar Community

Hundreds of people attended the dedication of Preston's new Catholic Cathedral this weekend.

Dignitaries and clergy attended the dedication of the new St Alphonsa Cathedral for the Indian Catholic (Syro-Malabar) faith.

The new bishop, Joseph Srampickal is, from Poovarany in Kerala, India.

He was ordained a priest in 2000 and has worked in India and Rome.

The cathedral is one of just three for the faith outside India.

The Vatican said earlier this year the Holy Father was happy to give the new diocese to Great Britain, after learning of the large number of Syro-Malabar faithful living in the UK. The other two dioceses of the Syro-Malabar Catholic Church outside of India are in the United States (founded in 2011) and Australia (founded in 2014). The city centre St Ignatius Church was closed in November 2014 after suffering a dwindling congregation.