A FORMER canon of Salisbury Cathedral has been announced as the new Bishop of London.

The appointment of the Right Reverend Sarah Mullally KBE, currently Bishop of Crediton in the Diocese of Exeter, was announced on Monday.

She said: “It is a great honour to be nominated to the See of London. Having lived and worked in London for over 32 years, the thought of returning here is about returning home.

“I am often asked what it has been like to have had two careers, first in the NHS and now in the church. I prefer to think that I have always had one vocation: to follow Jesus Christ, to know him and to make him known, always seeking to live with compassion in the service of others, whether as a nurse, a priest, or a bishop.

“To be given the opportunity to do that now in this vibrant world-city is a wonderful privilege.”

The Right Reverend Mullally KBE was Canon Treasurer at Salisbury Cathedral from 2012 to 2015.

The Bishop of Salisbury, the Right Reverend Nicholas Holtam, said: “I am delighted by the appointment of Sarah Mullally as Bishop of London – good news for her, for the Diocese of London, and the Church of England.

“Sarah was Canon Treasurer at Salisbury Cathedral and was a much-valued figure in the cathedral and in the diocese, bringing considerable senior experience from her secular career and a deep pastoral concern.”

And Archbishop Justin Welby, said: “As one of the first women consecrated as a bishop in the Church of England, she has not only blazed a trail for others but lived out the principles of mutual flourishing and acceptance which I know will continue to bear fruit in London.”

He added: “Bishop Sarah brings to this remarkable ministry in this great city an extraordinary experience and profound gifts which are guided by her faith in Jesus Christ, who is the foundation of all that she is.”

The date of her installation as Bishop of London is due to be announced at a later date.