THE Rt Revd David Urquhart, a former Bishop of Birmingham, has been appointed Bishop to the Archbishops of Canterbury and York — and will start work next week.

He succeeds Dr Emma Ineson, who is to be the next Bishop of Kensington (News, 16 December). Dr Ineson became the first Bishop to the Archbishops of Canterbury and York, in April 2021, when the post was created to replace the Bishop at Lambeth title (News, 23 April 2021). The new arrangement was to “facilitate closer working” between Lambeth and Bishopthorpe Palaces, a note from Lambeth said at the time.

A statement from Lambeth Palace announcing the appointment on Friday, said: “As a senior member of the Archbishops’ teams, Bishop David will play a key role in supporting the Archbishops and liaising with the House and College of Bishops, as well as alongside NCI and Diocesan colleagues and other key stakeholders.

“Bishop David will be part-time in this one-year interim role while continuing in his other part-time role as Assistant Priest for St Mary at Hill in the City of London. He will start in post next week.”

Bishop Urquhart was Bishop of Birmingham from 2006 until his retirement last year when he turned 70 (News, 13 May 2022); he was translated from Birkenhead. From 2015, he was Convenor of the Lords Spiritual, and, in 2018, he was appointed a Knight Commander of the Order of St Michael and St George, for services to international relations, in the Queen’s Birthday Honours list.

Bishop Urquhart said: “I am looking forward to supporting the ministry of the Archbishops of Canterbury and York and to sharing with them the pastoral and practical needs and opportunities of our episcopal colleagues across the Church of England.”

Archbishops Welby and Cottrell said in a joint statement: “We are delighted to welcome Bishop David to this important role. We know he will bring his considerable wisdom, humour and humility to the role, as well as his wealth of experience as a bishop and leader in the Church and the national life.”