Faith Features

The Right Reverend Tim Thornton is the current Bishop of Sherborne in Dorset.

He says he'll be getting out and about meeting the people of Cornwall, and spreading the Word of God and making sure it's relevant to everyone today.

But what type of man is he and how will he compare to the hugely popular Bishop Bill? BBC Radio Cornwall's Denis Nightingale has been finding out...

The diocese of Truro covers Cornwall, the Isles of Scilly and two Devon parishes.

Bishop Tim and his wife Sian

The new bishop, who is 51, will be officially welcomed to the post at a service at Truro Cathedral in January 2009.

His predecessor, 'Bishop Bill', as he likes to be known, has welcomed the news of his replacement: "Tim is very much a man after my own heart.

"The people of Cornwall will warm to him immediately, for he believes in a gospel accessible to all; he is an experienced, sensible bishop and a first rate communicator."

Bishop Tim is very much looking forward to his move to Cornwall.

"I have been a tremendous admirer of Bishop Bill for a long time," he says.

"Like him I am optimistic about the future of the church."

The new Bishop is well known for having a quick sense of humour and for being very approachable.

Truro Cathedral

Revd Thornton is married to Sian, a head teacher. They have two adult children.

He was educated in Plymouth and went to Southampton University before training for the ministry in Oxford.

He has been a university chaplain and chaplain to the Bishop of London.

A service to welcome the new Bishop of Truro will be held in Truro Cathedral on 24 January 2009.