The new Bishop of Reading is to be Rt Rev Andrew Proud, Downing Street has announced.

Rt Rev Proud replaces Rt Rev Stephen Cottrell, who became Bishop of Chelmsford in November.

Bishop Andrew, who is 56, is currently Area Bishop of Ethiopia and the Horn of Africa.

He will be installed as Bishop of Reading at Reading Minster on Saturday, April 16.

The Bishop of Reading is one of three Area Bishops in the Diocese of Oxford, who serve under Rt Rev John Pritchard, Bishop of Oxford.

The Reading Episcopal Area covers “old Berkshire”, which includes Vale of White Horse District Council area as well as part of South Oxfordshire.

Bishop Andrew said: “Having spent nine absorbing, fruitful years in Ethiopia, I am delighted to be coming to the Diocese of Oxford — a diocese clearly committed to transforming lives and serving communities.”

The Bishop of Oxford said: “I am delighted that Bishop Andrew is coming to join us in the Diocese of Oxford.

“He brings deep and fascinating experience and knowledge of the wider Anglican world, which will be very enriching to the people of Berkshire and the Diocese as a whole.”

Bishop Andrew is married to Janice, a plant physiologist, and has two grown-up children and a granddaughter.

Bishop Andrew’s predecessor was Rt Rev Stephen Cottrell, who was Bishop of Reading from 2004 until last year.