Bishop of Hereford named as the Right Reverend Richard Frith

The Right Reverend Richard Frith has been the Bishop of Hull for 16 years

The new Bishop of Hereford has been announced as the Right Reverend Richard Frith.

The current Bishop of Hull, 65, would be hopefully installed by the end of the year, The Diocese of Hereford said.

Bishop Frith, who has four children and four step-children, has worked in a mix of urban and rural areas in his 40 years of ministry, it added.

His predecessor in Hereford, the Right Reverend Anthony Priddis, retired from the role in September.

'Joyful enthusiasm'

Bishop Frith said he was "thrilled" to have been chosen.

He said: "The Diocese has a wonderful Christian heritage and I greatly look forward to playing my part in building up the church and serving the wider community."

The grandfather-of-seven has been the Bishop of Hull for 16 years.

The Archbishop of York Dr John Sentamu said he had brought "his passion and joyful enthusiasm to his mission for the Diocese of York".

From 1991 to 1998, Bishop Frith was Prebendary at Wells Cathedral, including being Archdeacon of Taunton for six of those years.

He was Team Rector at the Keynsham, Bath and Wells diocese from 1983 to 1992.

His new diocese covers Herefordshire, south Shropshire and parts of Worcestershire and Wales.