THEY may look like ordinary citizens, but these two people are leading the process to choose the new Bishop of Oxford.

Caroline Boddington is the Archbishop of Canterbury’s appointments secretary and Edward Chaplin is the Prime Minister’s appointment secretary.

They lead the appointment of all bishops in the UK, and they spent the past two days in Oxford finding out what people want from their new incumbent.

On Tuesday night, they held a public meeting at Christ Church Cathedral, and invited people to add to the “wishlist” for the new bishop.

Mr Chaplin said: “What we are trying to get is a clear picture of what the particular challenges are in the Oxford Diocese facing us over the next few years.

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“This will help us decide what qualities we are looking for in the new bishop.”

Ms Boddington added: “In suggesting there might be room to change that is in no way a criticism of the current bishop.”

Vicars and churchgoers who attended Tuesday’s meeting said they wanted a new bishop who could communicate with the average “man in a van” in Oxfordshire.

The former Bishop of Oxford John Pritchard stood down on October 31. Mr Chaplin and Ms Boddington will now appoint a panel of judges from the Oxford Diocese and the General Synod to interview and select the new bishop. The final decision will be announced some time next summer.

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