THE Right Reverend Mark Bryant, The Bishop of Jarrow will retire from the diocese at his next birthday in October.

Bishop Mark said: “I shall be 69 in October and will have been Bishop of Jarrow for just over 11 wonderful and happy years and that seems to be a good time to retire and move onto the next stage of life.

“In recent weeks I have become ever more aware of what an extraordinary blessing it has been to be allowed to live in the North East and to be amongst its people.

Bishop Mark will celebrate the Eucharist for the last time in Durham Cathedral on Sunday, September 23.

The work to find the next Bishop of Jarrow will start in due course. For now, Bishop Mark continues his normal ministry.