The new bishop of Lewes has been appointed and he has said he expects to become known as “the biking bishop” 

The Reverend Richard Jackson, 53, Mission Renewal adviser and leader of the Church Growth Team in the Diocese of Chichester was announced to take up the position this morning at 10am.

He admitted “something of a midlife crisis” encouraged him to buy a Harley Davidson and he hopes to get around his new patch riding the motorbike.

Mr Jackson said: "I am relieved that I am able to at last talk about something I have known for quite some time.

"One of my key tasks is to be a mediator and to bring people to mutual understanding. I really want to be a bishop to all people; it is as simple as that.

“Ultimately, the task of the church is about growth. If we want to contribute to the common good in society we need to growth and be growing."

As bishop, Mr Jackson will serve with Dr Martin Warner, Bishop of Chichester, and Mark Sowerby who is the Bishop of Horsham.

Dr Warner said: "I am absolutely delighted that Richard has agreed to take on this task and to share in the ministry of this Diocese as a bishop.

"I urge everyone to pray for him and his family and I look forward to working collaboratively with him."

Mr Jackson, a father of three, married to Deborah, a special needs teacher, has a background is science and agriculture and worked as an agricultural consultant before becoming a priest.

Originally from Wiltshire, Mr Jackson studied at Oxford and trained for ministry at Trinity College, Bristol.

He became Vicar of Rudgwick in 1998 and then was Rural Dean of Horsham from 2005 before taking up his current post in Chichester.

He will be ordained as a bishop in a ceremony in Westminster Abbey in May, succeeding Wallace Benn who retired in 2012.