THE Bishop of Winchester has welcomed the news that The Queen has approved the nomination of the Right Reverend Justin Welby for election as the 105th Archbishop of Canterbury.

The Bishop of Winchester, The Rt Revd Tim Dakin said: “It’s exciting to hear that a new Archbishop of Canterbury has been named today and I speak for the whole Diocese in saying that Bishop Justin Welby can be assured of our prayers as he takes up this enormous task. “We cannot welcome a new Archbishop without acknowledging with gratitude the decade of work and ministry of Archbishop Rowan Williams whom he succeeds. Leadership of the Anglican Communion is a task more demanding than any of us can imagine and we look to the Spirit of God to inspire and encourage Bishop Justin. “He faces a range of challenges, expectations and complex issues that only his faithful walk with God will enable him to address and we look forward, with Anglicans around the world, to joining him on that path.”