New bishop's bus tour of diocese

Nottingham's new bishop has been named as the Rt Rev Paul Butler.

The Nottingham University graduate, who is currently Bishop of Southampton, was given a bus tour of the Nottingham and Southwell Diocese on Monday.

Bishop Butler, 53, who is well-known in Church of England evangelical circles, will take up his post after Christmas.

The bishop, who has a special interest in children's issues, said: "I am returning to a county I grew to love in my previous years living here."

Out and about

He added: "In being given the enormous honour of becoming the next Bishop of Southwell and Nottingham I greatly look forward to working with both church and community to see this happening.

"I will seek to be out and about across the county and city learning what is happening in both church and community amongst every section of the community."

The father-of-four was appointed the Bishop of Southampton in the Diocese of Winchester in 2004.

The new bishop will be the first to be enthroned since the Diocese of Southwell changed its name to the Diocese of Southwell and Nottingham at the end of 2005.

The Rt Rev George Cassidy retires as the current bishop in July.

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The Bishop will take up his post after Christmas