The Bishop of Truro, the Rt Revd Tim Thornton, has been appointed as the new Bishop of Lambeth, and will be stepping down from his role in Cornwall.

Bishop Tim will take up his new post in September, when he moves to the borough of London with his wife, Sian, and their two children, to replace Rt Revd Nigel Stock who is due to retire.

Since his appointment in 2009 Bishop Tim has done a lot for the county, including co-chairing an inquiry into foodbanks which led to the report Feeding Britain.

He was also the president of the Royal Cornwall Agricultural Association and chair of the Development and Appointments Group, which oversees the leadership development work among senior clergy.

His duties at Lambeth will include supporting the Archbishop of Canterbury's work in the House of Bishops, general Synod and the Archbishop's Council.

He will also be heavily involved in the Lambeth Conference 2020, and take on the role of Bishop to the Forces.

Bishop Tim said: “It has been a privilege to serve as bishop in this very special part of the country.

"I have especially enjoyed being part of the wider life of the county and community, as well as working with wonderful colleagues to implement a strategy for discovering God’s kingdom and growing the church.

“It will of course be a real sadness to leave Cornwall.

"However I am very much looking forward to working with the staff at Lambeth, and thinking about how we continue to embed Archbishop Justin’s priorities of prayer, evangelism and reconciliation into the life of the Church of England and the Anglican Communion.

“I am particularly interested in the Archbishop’s emphasis on spirituality and prayer, and seeing how the incredible work of Thy Kingdom Come continues to flourish.”

The Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, said: “I am delighted to be welcoming Bishop Tim to Lambeth Palace. He brings a wealth of experience to the role. He already has extensive knowledge and understanding of the College and House of Bishops, and a heart for those on the margins of society, who are often overlooked.

"His work on Feeding Britain demonstrates his range of ability and skill in bringing people together.”

The Bishop of St Germans, the Rt Rev Dr Chris Goldsmith, said: “We will all be tremendously sorry to see Bishop Tim move on from his role as the Bishop of Truro this summer.

"In his time as diocesan bishop since 2009, he has been a thoughtful, energetic and good-humoured leader.

"Not only has he been tireless in inspiring people to look for new ways to meet the challenges of ensuring the church remains relevant, engaged and engaging in the 21st century, he has also been a keen advocate for the county, and particularly some of its least privileged members.

"On a personal note I will miss him tremendously as a colleague, a mentor and a friend.

"However, working alongside Archbishop Justin is a role for which Bishop Tim is very well suited and in Lambeth he will be able to influence the Church across our nation and throughout the Anglican communion.

"I wish him well and pray for him and for this land of Cornwall which he has served.”