A FORMER chaplain to the Royal Shakespeare Company has been confirmed as the next Bishop of Dudley.

The Venerable Martin Gorick, who is currently the Archdeacon of Oxford and Residentiary Canon at Christ Church College and Cathedral, will take up the post early next year - Downing Street announced today (Monday).

He said of the appointment: “I’m looking forward to joining God’s people in Dudley and the wider Diocese of Worcester as they seek to live lives of love, compassion, justice and freedom. We’re currently living in challenging times with many divided communities.

"The Church has a key role to play in offering a place of safety and sanctuary where all people can come together to share their common humanity under God.

"As Bishop of Dudley, I would want to lead that work while supporting and encouraging all in our congregations to live out their faith in Jesus at home, at work and at school as well as in church.”

Ordained in 1987, Martin is currently responsible for the churches and clergy in the city of Oxford - as well as being Diocesan Interfaith Adviser.

Before to moving to Oxford in 2013, he was vicar of ‘Shakespeare’s Church’ in Stratford-upon-Avon where he was also chaplain to the Royal Shakespeare Company.

From 1994-2001, Martin was vicar of Smethwick Old Church and area dean for the Black Country Deanery of Warley.

He has also worked as Bishop’s chaplain for Richard Harries in Oxford and started his ordained life as curate of Birtley, an industrial and mining town near Gateshead in the Diocese of Durham.

The Bishop of Worcester, Dr John Inge, said: “Martin is a hugely gifted priest with an enormous amount of experience in ministry, not least as a vicar in the Black Country. I look forward greatly to working with him for the growth of God’s Kingdom in this diocese to which he is already committed. I pray that he and his wife Katharine will find much joy in their new life here.”

Born in Liverpool, Martin grew up in Nottingham and he read theology and religious studies at Selwyn College, Cambridge, from 1981 to 1984.

A keen football supporter of Liverpool and Notts County, he is married to Katharine who is county lead for visual impairment in Oxfordshire and they have three grown up children.

Set to be consecrated as a Bishop on January 28, he will be officially welcomed into his new role in the Diocese of Worcester with events in Worcester and Dudley in February 2020.