THE Bishop of Worcester has welcomed the announcement of the Rt. Revd. Justin Welby as the new Archbishop of Canterbury.

The Very Rev Dr John Inge referred to the current Bishop of Durham and former oil industry senior executive as a “Godly man” and said his appointment was good news for the country.

Bishop John said: “I was delighted to learn Justin Welby is to become the next Archbishop of Canterbury. He is a very godly and able man with a wealth of appropriate experience both inside and outside the Church.

“His appointment is good news for the Church of England and the nation as well as the Anglican Communion. I look forward very much to working with him.”

The Bishop of Hereford Anthony Priddis, who used to work with Bishop Welby, also welcomed the appointment and said he felt he would address spiritual issues within the nation.

“I have known Justin and his family for over sixteen years, from the time that he was a parish priest in Coventry diocese, and I was one of his bishops as Bishop of Warwick,” he said. “Justin is above all a person of deep faith and humanity. He sees issues clearly and communicates well.

“He is approachable, understanding, strategic, insightful and discerning. Justin, together with his wife, Caroline, and their family, like any Bishop and Archbishop, needs the prayers and support of us all. They certainly have mine.”