New Bishop of Ebbsfleet announced

The Reverend Canon Jonathan Goodall is to be the new Suffragan Bishop of Ebbsfleet, Downing Street confirmed.

Canon Goodall, 52, has been chaplain to the Archbishop of Canterbury since 2005 and is also Ecumenical Secretary at Lambeth Palace.

He succeeds Bishop Jonathan Baker as Bishop of Ebbsfleet and will be ordained alongside the new Suffragan Bishop of Tewkesbury in Westminster Abbey on 25 September.

As Bishop of Ebbsfleet, Canon Goodall will serve as one of two Provincial Episcopal Visitors for the Province of Canterbury.

The Provincial Episcopal Visitors work with the diocesan bishops to provide extended pastoral care and sacramental ministry on the Archbishop's behalf.

They also act as spokesmen and advisors to ensure that "the integrity of differing beliefs and positions concerning the ordination of women to the priesthood should be mutually recognised and respected".

Canon Goodall said: "I am delighted, as I'm sure many will be, that Archbishop Justin [Welby] is demonstrating his love and care and commitment to our whole church by bringing the number of provincial episcopal visitors up to full strength.

"Although it's a time of upheaval and uncertainty, I'm eager to be with the parishes who belong to the See of Ebbsfleet and to serve as them as bishop, which has to mean giving my life for them.

"But not only for them. As bishop I promise to give my life to the Church of God as a whole, and to build up the faith, trust and mutual respect that will bring our witness to life."

Welcoming the news, Archbishop Welby said he was "delighted" that Canon Goodall had agreed to take up the post.

He praised Canon Goodall's eight years of "distinguished" and "wideranging" service at Lambeth Palace.

"He brings to the post an exceptional intellectual ability, as well as a wealth of pastoral and personal gifts which prepare him perfectly for this key role during a very demanding time for the Church of England," he said.

The Archbishop added: "I also want to take this opportunity to express my deep gratitude to those who have exercised pastoral care for traditionalist priests and parishes in recent months, especially Bishop John Ford and Bishop Lindsay Urwin."

Canon Goodall trained for the ordained ministry at Wycliffe Hall, Oxford, and serrved his curacy in the Bicester Team Ministry, in Oxford Diocese, from 1989 to 1992.

From 1992 he was Sacrist, Chaplain and Minor Canon of Westminster Abbey, and from 1998 to 2005 he served successive Bishops of Gibraltar in Europe as Chaplain and Research Assistant, and Liturgical Officer in the Diocese in Europe.

Since 2005 he has been Chaplain and Ecumenical Secretary to successive Archbishops of Canterbury at Lambeth Palace.

He is married to Sarah, a musician, and they have two children, Thomas, 24, and AnnaMary, 19.