THE Bishop of Dudley is set to leave the Diocese of Worcester to take up a new role in his home town.

The Prime Minister’s office in Downing Street has announced the Rt Revd David Walker will become the 12th Bishop of Manchester in October.

Revd Walker, aged 56, grew up in Manchester spent the early years of his church career working in the Sheffield area.

Bishop David said: “Whilst I am very excited about returning to my home city as bishop, Sue and I will also be sad to leave so many friends that we have made in the Diocese of Worcester.

“I'm grateful for the many opportunities that I have been given both to support the mission and ministry of the Church of England in Dudley and Worcestershire and to contribute to the life of our villages, towns and communities.”

The Bishop of Worcester, the Rt Revd John Inge, said: “Although I shall be very sorry to lose a wonderful colleague from our diocese, I’m delighted that Bishop David has been appointed as Bishop of Manchester.

“As anyone who knows him will be aware, he is a person of great gifts, immense wisdom and deep personal holiness. I have reason to be profoundly grateful to him – I could not have wished for a better colleague during the last five years.

“The Diocese of Manchester is very fortunate, as is the wider church and I shall be joining very many others to pray for God’s rich blessing upon David and Sue as they prepare to move and in their new life and ministry.”

There will be a service to celebrate and give thanks for Bishop David’s ministry in Worcestershire and Dudley in Worcester Cathedral during October.

The process to appoint a new Bishop of Dudley will begin immediately.