THE new Bishop of Chelmsford, the Rt Rev Stephen Cottrell has been speaking of his new role and his determination to be the voice of the Christian church in Essex.

He affirms: “I am most excited by the work I can do outside the Church, even more than inside it.”

The key both to his personal impact and his ministry is communication.

He says: “If I’ve been blessed with a gift, it’s with the ability to speak about the Christian faith in all sorts of contexts which are not necessarily seen as Christian.

“My job as a bishop is to be the voice of the Christian church, which is the voice of God.”

He assumes the title officially and spiritually at his ordination ceremony in Chelmsford Cathedral, next Sunday.