THE new Bishop of Grimsby has pledged to be "fully involved with the life of North East Lincolnshire".
The Reverend Canon Dr David Court, 55, will begin work as the bishop in September, and will replace the Right Reverend David Rossdale who retired from the position last year – leaving the post vacant for the past 16 months.
The bishop holds responsibility for appointments, pastoral care and development of clergy in the northern half of the Lincoln Diocese.
He will be responsible for 376 parishes stretching from Newton-on-Trent in the west to near Skegness in the east – a congregation spread over 1,300 square miles.
During an official announcement at the Grimsby Docks yesterday, he said: "It is great to be finally here after months of waiting. It goes without saying that I am hugely honoured to be taking up the role.
"I am looking forward to working here and getting to know the people of the community. And I am hugely looking forward to being part of the Church, where we can look to make a huge difference.
"I know we face challenges but I am not afraid to face them. As Bishop of Grimsby, it will be particularly important for me to be fully involved with the life of North East Lincolnshire."
Canon Court has been vicar of Cromer in Norfolk for the past 11 years, while he is also the Rural Dean of Repps and is an honorary Canon of Norwich Cathedral.
Canon Court served his first curacy at Barton Seagrave in the Diocese of Peterborough from 1991 to 1994, before going on to Salisbury between 1994 and 1997, and Norwich and Cromer since.
Married to Ann, they have two sons, aged 27 and 25, and a 14-year-old daughter.
As Bishop of Grimsby, Canon Court will have a strategic and leadership role across the northern part of the Lincoln Diocese to co-ordinate and develop the diocese's mission.
The Bishop of Lincoln, the Right Reverend Christopher Lowson, said: "I am delighted that David will be joining the diocesan team as we seek to build the Church and make it a real force for good in all communities of Lincolnshire.
"David's wonderful gifts and experience will be a huge asset to us as we strive to create more faithful, confident and joyful Christians.
"David and Ann are a delightful team, and my colleagues and I can't wait to begin working with them."
Canon Court was formally presented at an official announcement at the Grimsby Fish Market, which was attended by local MPs Austin Mitchell and Martin Vickers.
Mr Vickers was among the select panel to choose the new candidate.
He said: "This process is more of an appointment rather than an election. We put David's name forward to Downing Street, who then sought the approval of the Queen.
"I was honoured to play a part in the selection and it is great that we now have a bishop in place. I'm sure the people will take to him with their hearts.
"They will be seeing quite a lot of him in the coming years, I'm sure."
He will be consecrated as Bishop of Grimsby at St Paul's Cathedral in London on July 25. He will also be welcomed to the diocese at a special service in Lincoln Cathedral on July 27.
