THE next Suffragan Bishop of Thetford, in the diocese of Norwich, is to be the Ven. Ian Bishop, currently the Archdeacon of Macclesfield, in Chester diocese, Downing Street announced on Wednesday.

He succeeds Dr Alan Winton, who retired at the end of April.

Archdeacon Bishop, who is 62, was ordained priest in 1992. He served his title at Christ Church, Purley, in the diocese of Southwark, until 1995, when he moved to Norwich diocese. There, he served in parish ministry until 2001. He became Vicar of Middlewich, in the diocese of Chester, for ten years, and also served as the Rural Dean. He was appointed Archdeacon of Macclesfield in 2011.

Archdeacon Bishop will be ordained in Westminster Abbey on 29 September. A service of welcome will be held at Norwich Cathedral the next day.

He said on Wednesday: “I want to be a pastoral bishop who comes among the people of Norfolk and Waveney with kindness and love, and an ability to listen well. I want to be a missional bishop, to help you grow your church where you are and to nurture the green shoots of growth that you see locally. I am looking forward to being amongst you very much, we have very many happy memories.”

Welcoming the appointment, the Bishop of Norwich, the Rt Revd Graham Usher, said that the Archdeacon had a “pastor’s heart and an evangelist’s passion. . . I have been impressed by how he recognises the importance and challenge to reach children and young people.”

Archdeacon Bishop was born and brought up in Devizes, in Wiltshire, and before ordination was a chartered surveyor. He is married to Sue and they have three sons. He enjoys theatre, cinema, cricket, golf, and amateur dramatics.