Taking its name from the site of an early Christian community in Kent, established around the time of the arrival of St Augustine in 597AD, the See of Richborough serves parishes in the eastern part of the Church of England’s Province of Canterbury – the dioceses of Canterbury, Ely, Chelmsford, Guildford, St Edmundsbury and Ipswich, Leicester, Lincoln, Norwich, Peterborough, Portsmouth, Rochester, St Albans and Winchester as well as Gibraltar in Europe.

Fr Luke said: “I am deeply humbled to have been called to serve as the next Bishop of Richborough. I am thankful for the prayers of everyone involved in the discernment and appointment process, and grateful for the hard work of all those who have served the See of Richborough so faithfully during the months since Bishop Norman’s retirement.

“I am aware of the very great trust that has been placed in me, and all that I must learn about this beautiful and diverse See. With the prayers and support of all the Richborough parishes, I will do my very best to be a worthy and diligent pastor to them, and to the wider Church.

“Knowing and being known is at the heart of episcopal ministry. As St Augustine famously wrote, ‘With you, I am a Christian; for you, I am a bishop’. With you and for you will, I pray, be at the heart of my new ministry amongst the Richborough Family.

“I greatly look forward to moving home and to being embedded in the Diocese of Portsmouth, sharing in the life and mission of that diocese with Bishop Jonathan and each of the bishops across the 14 dioceses served by the See of Richborough. Please pray for me and my family as I prepare to begin this exciting ministry.

“My prayer today is that zeal for the gospel, faithful, sacrificial, and joyful service of those communities to be entrusted to my pastoral and sacramental care will continue to be the essence of the character of the Richborough Family so that, through the beauty and quality of our life together, all may encounter through us our living and glorious Lord, Jesus Christ.”

Bishop Jonathan said: “We want to warmly welcome Fr Luke as he makes his base within our diocese. We recognise that we may not see much of him, as his new role will take him to many other dioceses. But we’d like him to feel that whenever he returns to our diocese, he is coming home.

“We want to assure him of our prayers, to see him enfolded within God’s love as he serves in this important ministry, and to assure him of our commitment to mutual flourishing.”

Luke Irvine-Capel was educated at Greyfriars, Oxford, and trained for ministry at the College of the Resurrection, Mirfield. He served his title at Abertillery with Cwmtillery and Six Bells, Monmouth and, in 2000, was ordained priest. In 2001 Luke was appointed Minor Canon at St Woolos Cathedral, Newport.

From 2003 he served as Rector of St Dunstan with Holy Angels, Cranford, in the Diocese of London and, in 2008, was appointed Vicar of St Gabriel, Pimlico. From 2013 Luke served as priest-in-charge and then rector of Christ Church, St Mary Magdalen and St Peter & St Paul, St Leonards on Sea in the Diocese of Chichester, serving in addition as priest-in-charge of St Clement and All Saints, Hastings.

In 2019 he took up his current role as Archdeacon of Chichester. The date of his consecration has yet to be decided.

The Rt Rev Martin Warner, Bishop of Chichester, said: “I am delighted that Fr Luke has been chosen to be the next Bishop of Richborough. It has been very satisfying to watch his wide-ranging gifts mature in archidiaconal ministry, which he has always exercised as though he were still a parish priest. That is a great achievement!

“His sense of humour will stand him in good stead for episcopal ministry, as will the seriousness of his sense of holiness and the urgency of our sacred mission.

And the Bishop of Fulham, Jonathan Baker, chairman of the Society’s Council of Bishops, said: “I extend a warm welcome to Fr Luke to the Council, and assure him of the support and prayers of the Society bishops as he prepares to become the Bishop of Richborough.”