THE new Bishop of Dudley will be officially ordained later this month.

Martin Gorick will be consecrated as a bishop by the Archbishop of Canterbury at a special service at at Southwark Cathedral on Tuesday January 28.

Speaking ahead of his new role in Dudley, Martin said: "I’m delighted to be joining Bishop John and the people of Dudley along with all across the Diocese of Worcester as we discover together how best to be the Church for England in this new decade.

"As a Black Country bishop I look forward to the church playing its part in the regeneration of Britain’s heartland in the West Midlands, and to working in partnership with all people of good will.”

Martin will then be formally welcomed to Dudley at a service at Top Church on Saturday, February 22 at 4pm.

The following day he will be installed in Worcester Cathedral at Evensong at 4pm on Sunday February 23, after which his ministry in the diocese will begin.

Bishop of Worcester, Dr John Inge, who will be working with Martin across the diocese, said: “Becoming a bishop is an exciting new step in Martin’s faith journey. I pray for God’s rich blessing on Martin and his wife Katharine as they prepare to join us here. I am looking forward greatly to working with the new Bishop in growing God’s Kingdom throughout Worcestershire and Dudley.”

Martin has previously served as Archdeacon of Oxford and Residentiary Canon of Christ Church. He has also been Vicar of ‘Shakespeare’s Church’ in Stratford-upon-Avon where he was also Chaplain to the Royal Shakespeare Company and was Vicar of Smethwick Old Church and Area Dean for the Black Country Deanery of Warley.