TRIBUTES have been paid to the efforts of the Bishop of Southampton who is leaving the city to begin a new role in the Midlands.

The Rt Rev Jonathan Gledhill, pictured, was named yesterday as the new Bishop of Lichfield, which covers part of Staffordshire, Shropshire and the West Midlands.

He said: "I will miss the friends and colleagues I have made in the Diocese of Winchester.

"It will be a wrench to leave at a point when I am so much at home here and fully engaged in plans for mission and growth."

The Rt Rev Gledhill, who was appointed in 1996, was effectively joint second in command of the Winchester Diocese after the Bishop of Winchester, the Rt Rev Michael Scott-Joynt.

Southampton mayor councillor Parvin Damani said: "I'm very aware of his hard work, the commitment he's given to all the faith communities in the city and especially the efforts on behalf of his own church.

"His promotion is well deserved and I wish him continued success as he tackles his next post in Lichfield."

Clergy and lay people across Hampshire's churches are expected to be widely consulted in the process of appointing the next Bishop of Southampton.

The Rt Rev Scott-Joynt will start to draw up a job description and personal specification as to the skills and experience needed by his new area Bishop in Southampton, and then agree these with his Bishop's Council. Minded of the recent controversy over the Bishop-elect of Reading, where the feelings of the Anglican church as a whole were felt not to have been taken into account, The Rt Rev Scott-Joynt is expected to listen to both the evangelical and liberal wings of the church, as well as clergy and lay representation.

He will form an interview panel and invite candidates to meet them at a secret location in the diocese, and narrow down the options to two candidates and consult with the Archbishop of Canterbury at various states throughout the process.

The Rt Rev Scott-Joynt will finally seek his approval by forwarding two names, with his preference starred.

The archbishop will then forward the names to the Prime Minister who, by tradition, accepts the preferred name as the post is seen as an assistant to the bishop. The appointment is finally made by the Queen.