The largest and most elaborate ceremony of its kind ever held in the Episcopal Diocese of Atlanta will take place June 29 when the Rev. Milton LeGrand Wood is consecrated as Suffragan Bishop of the dioceses.

The service will be held at 10 a.m. at the Cathedral of St. Philip, Atlanta. It will be the first time a bishop has been consecrated here in the last 15 years and the fourth in the history of the diocese, which dates back to 1907. The last consecration of a bishop was that of the late Rt. Rev. John B. Walthour in 1952.

The occasion also marks the first visit to Atlanta of the Rt. Rev. John E. Hines since his election as Presiding Bishop of the Episcopal Church in the United States. Bishop Hines will be one of the three consecrating bishops, together with the Rt. Rev. Randolph R. Claiborne, bishop of the Diocese of Atlanta, and the Rt. Rev. Charles C.J. Carpenter, Bishop of Alabama, who ordained Bishop-elect Wood to the priesthood and officiated at his marriage to the former Ann Scott of Montgomery, Ala., in 1949.

A processional of some 200 clerical and lay dignitaries and choirs will be one of the most colorful and all-inclusive ever held in the area.

In keeping with the ecumenical spirit, Roman Catholic clergy from the Atlanta Archdiocese will be included in the procession. It will be the first time Catholic clergy have participate in the consecration of an Episcopal bishop in this diocese.

A congregation of more than 1,000 from throughout the diocese and the nation is expected to attend.

The Rev. Mr. Wood, 44, will be the first Suffragan (assistant) bishop in this diocese. His function will be to assist the diocesan bishop, the Rt. Rev. Randolph R. Claiborne, in the work of the diocese, particularly confirmation of new members. He has served as canon to the ordinary for the past four years. In this post he assisted Bishop Claiborne but did not perform those offices reserved for bishops.

The Rev. Mr. Wood was born in Selma, Ala., and reared in Montgomery. He was rector of St. Paul’s Church in Mobile, Ala., before coming to Atlanta in 1952 as rector of All Saints’ Church. In 1960 he went to Macon as director of Appleton Church Home and Archdeacon for the Macon area, returning to Atlanta as Canon to the Ordinary in 1963. He and Mrs. Wood and their four children, Leigh, Ann, Milton, Jr. and Roberta, live in Atlanta.

As suffragen bishop, he will hold full rank in the highest order of Episcopal clergy. He will be a member in the House of Bishops of the Episcopal Church and in the Lambeth Conference of all Anglican Bishops throughout the world.

Tom Brumby, ,Cathedral organist, will play for the consecration service, the Cathedral choir, dressed in purple robes with white ruffs, will sing. Among the songs included in the ceremony will be the 1,500-year-old hymn said to have been written by St. Patrick and known as St. Patrick’s Breastplate.

More than a dozen Episcopal bishops will participate in the Laying on of Hands, according to the canons of the Apostolic Succession of Bishops, which is traced back to St. Peter. Presiding Bishop Hines will celebrate the Holy Communion, which is always a part of the consecration service.

Others who will participate in the rite include the following: the Rt. Rev. James L. Duncan, Suffragan bishop of South Florida; the Rt. Rev. Albert R. Stuart, bishop of the Diocese of Georgia; the Rt. Rev. John M. Allin, bishop of Mississippi and a seminary classmate of Bishop-elect Wood; the Rev. W. Douglas Winn, Rector of St. George’s Church, Griffin; the Rev. L. P. Arsnault, Rector of Christ Church, Mobile, Ala.; the Rt. Rev. George Murray, bishop co-adjuter of Alabama and the Rt. Rev. William E. Sanders, bishop co-adjutor of Tennessee, another seminary classmate of the bishop-elect.

Also taking part will be the Rev. W. Russell Daniel, secretary of the diocese; Mr. Edwin L. Sterne, diocesan chancellor; the Rev. Frank M. Ross, Rector of All Saints’ Church, Atlanta; the Rev. T. Stewart Matthews, Rector of St. Paul’s Church, Macon; the Rt. Rev. Robert E. Gribbin, retired Bishop of North Carolina and the Very Rev. David B. Collins, Dean of the Cathedral of St. Philip.

The new Bishop will be required to testify that he is persuaded that Holy Scriptures contain all doctrine required as necessary for eternal salvation and to promise to banish and drive away from the Church will all faithful diligence all erroneous and strange doctrine. He must deny all ungodliness and worldly lusts and promise to maintain and set forward quietness, love and peace among all men. He will promise to show himself gentle and merciful for Christ’s sake to poor and needy people.

The vows will be followed by the laying on of hands and the words of consecration, and then the Holy Communion. Those receiving communion will be the new bishop and his family and the other bishops participating in the service.

Following the consecration ceremony, there will be a reception in the Cathedral’s Hall of Bishops for those attending the service. At 1:30 p.m. a luncheon will be held at the Marriott Motor Hotel for the new bishop and his family, clergy of the diocese and their wives, and out of diocese visitors.

Bishop-elect Wood will be the sixth bishop ever to serve the Diocese of Atlanta. He will have his office at the Cathedral.

In addition to the clergy, lay representatives of every parish and mission of the diocese are expected to attend the ceremony and reception.