The new Bishop of Oxford has been announced this morning as the Rt Rev Dr Steven Croft.

He replaces the Rt Rev John Pritchard, and the announcement was made this morning at the Oxford Diocese's new headquarters at Langford Locks in Kidlington.

Rt Rev Dr Croft, 58, is currently Bishop of Sheffield, a role he has held since 2009.

He has also been a member of the House of Lords since 2013.

Bishop Steven has several personal connections with Oxford.

He is a graduate of Worcester College and met and married wife Ann in the city.

Bishop Steven's family lived in Oxford from 2004 to 2009 when he was leading Fresh Expressions, an initiative aimed at moderning the Church.

He said: "I am looking forward enormously to a new challenge and new responsibility in the Diocese of Oxford and to working with the senior team and many others to serve the local communities and to build up the life of the Church. 

"There are many signs of God’s grace at work across the Diocese and immense potential for the future. 

"I would ask for the prayers of the Diocese in the coming weeks and months for all that lies ahead."

The Bishop of Dorchester, the Rt Rev Colin Fletcher, who is serving as Acting Bishop of Oxford during the vacancy, said: "Today is a great day for our Diocese as we welcome the announcement of the next Bishop of Oxford. 

"As both a diocesan bishop and as a parish priest Steven has shown a passion for sharing the good news of Christ in both traditional and innovative ways.

"Link that to his wide experience of training men and women for a variety of ministries and you can understand there will be much rejoicing around the Diocese today."

During the announcement day Bishop Steven will travel across the diocese, visiting all three counties of his new diocese.

The day will include breakfast with colleagues in Bicester, an area of significant new housing development, and end with Evening Prayer at the Cathedral.

Bishop Steven added: "Today will be just a whistlestop tour but I’m very much looking forward to making longer visits to all corners of the diocese when I take up office later in the year."

The Dean of Christ Church, the Very Rev Professor Martyn Percy, said: "The Cathedral very much looks forward to welcoming Bishop Steven to Oxford, and to the wider diocese.

“Bishop Steven comes with a wealth of experience in ministry, mission  and in theological education, and the diocese will welcome the many gifts that he will bring to our work across the cities, communities and counties of the diocese.

"The diocese – like its cathedral – is both complex and unique, and we look forward to the distinctive gifts that Bishop Steven will bring to us in our shared vocation."

Bishop Steven expects to take up office in the early autumn.

Rt Rev John Pritchard retired as Bishop of Oxford in October, 2014, after seven years in the post.

The Diocese has a population of 2.3 million people, more than 800 churches and almost 600 parochial clergy.

It also includes 12 secondary and 270 primary church schools.