Canon Paul Colton (38) is to be the new Bishop of Cork, Cloyne and Ross. The Derry-born clergyman will succeed the Rev Roy Warke, who retired at the end of December.
The canon, currently rector of Castleknock and Mulhuddart with Clonsilla in the Diocese of Dublin, was selected yesterday by 52 members of the Church of Ireland electoral college. Though from Derry, Canon Colton's family moved to Cork when he was three years old. He spent his formative years in Cork, is a graduate of UCC, and his parents continue to live in the city.
He and his wife, Susan, a primary school teacher, have three-year-old twins, Andrew and Adam.
"I feel somewhat shocked, very honoured and very humbled - I feel that a great trust has been placed in me by the people of Cork and I'm looking forward to them helping me to rise to meet the challenge of my new appointment," he said yesterday.
Retiring Bishop Warke wished his successor well and said he hoped he would be as happy in the position as he himself had been.
"I congratulate him and wish him every blessing as he comes back to the city where he grew up," he said.
Canon Colton is co-ordinator of religious programmes involving the Protestant churches for RTE.
He spent six years at the start of his ministry in the Diocese of Connor in Northern Ireland.
He moved from Northern Ireland to the Diocese of Dublin in 1990.
His new diocese, which has over 10,000 members, stretches east to Cloyne and west to Ross. Its major landmark is the majestic St Fin Barre's cathedral.
One topic the new bishop may find himself dealing with is the proposal which has gained currency in recent years to merge the United Dioceses of Cork, Cloyne and Ross with Limerick.