An opera-loving Yorkshireman with significant experience in the field of vocations and ministry has been named as the next Bishop of Horsham.
The appointment of the Rev Mark Sowerby, currently team rector at St Wilfrid's, Harrogate, was announced by Downing Street on Friday.
Father Mark succeeds the Rt Rev Lindsay Urwin who moved to a new appointment in February and will take on his res
ponsibility for the whole of the Midhurst and Petworth area.
He will officially become the new bishop at a service in Chichester Cathedral on July 25.
He read theology at King's College, London before training at the College of the Resurrection, Mirfield.
He was ordained deacon in 1987 and then priest in 1988 in Ripon Cathedral where he had also been baptised. He was curate first in Knaresborough then in Darwen with Tockholes in Blackburn diocese. He remained in that diocese to become vicar of St Mary Magdalen's, Accrington as well as chaplain to St Christopher's CE High School and Accrington Victoria Hospital. From 1993-1996 he was assistant diocesan director of Ordinands in Blackburn diocese.
In 1997, he moved to London as a selection secretary, running selection conferences (now called advisory panels) on behalf of the House of Bishops. He was also the Church of England's principal vocations officer, supporting dioceses of the Church of England in their work to foster vocations to ordained and authorised lay ministries.
In 2001, Fr Mark returned to his native diocese and to St Wilfrid's, Harrogate, where he became team rector in the newly-established team ministry in 2004.
Over the same period he served on the Diocesan Synod, the General Synod, and the Ministry Council of the Church of England as well as on the council of the theological college at Mirfield. For the past five years he has also served as one of the House of Bishops' inspectors of theological colleges and courses.
Fr Mark is married to Ruth, a religious studies teacher, and they have three teenage daughters, Bethan, Pippa and Anna.
He said: "I am absolutely thrilled to be offered this wonderful opportunity to move here and be a part of the church at work in Sussex. I am as delighted as I am surprised to be moving to Chichester diocese as area bishop of Horsham.
"I very much look forward to getting to know the people of West Sussex and to working with Bishop John Hind in the service of Christ and his people."
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