STORY
The King has approved the nomination of the Venerable Richard (Rick) Simpson for election as the next Bishop of Durham, Downing Street has announced. Simpson, who is currently Archdeacon of Auckland in the Diocese of Durham, will succeed the Right Reverend Paul Roger Butler following Butler’s retirement.
In a statement issued on Thursday, the Prime Minister’s Office said the appointment had received royal approval and confirmed Simpson’s current senior role in the diocese. The Bishop of Durham is one of the Church of England’s most prominent posts, with the office-holder also serving as a Lord Spiritual in the House of Lords.