It was the moment a galaxy far far away turned up on York Minster’s doorstep.
Ten deacons had just been ordained inside. And when they emerged onto the steps for their photocall, they were met by… Darth Vader.
The slightly surreal moment saw the dark lord of the Empire photobomb the new deacons and the bishops of Hull, Selby and Whitby, along with Darth Maul and several stormtroopers.
In fact the Star Wars characters were all from the Sentinel Squad, in town as part of the Yor Kon Comic Con which was in the city centre on Sunday (July 1).
The Squad was on charity fundraising duty outside the Minster and was invited to join the lineup of church ministers for a pic or two.
Meanwhile the new Diocese of York deacons – eight women and two men – include a former social worker, an actor and an optometrist. But no one from the Galactic Empire.