THE NEW Bishop of Durham has been named as Canon Dr Nicholas Thomas Wright.

Canon Wright, who is also Canon Theologian of Westminster Abbey, grew up in Northumberland and is recognised as one of the foremost New Testament scholars with an international reputation.

Having written over 30 books for both scholars and the wider public, he has also presented radio broadcasts and taken part in the Son of God television series.

On March 21, his latest book The Resurrection of the Son of God, a historical and theological study of the resurrection, is due to be published.

Most recently, he has assisted John McCarthy in the production of a series called John meets Paul - a Mediterranean Journey currently being shown on ITV late on Sunday evenings.

A life-long supporter of Newcastle United, Canon Wright is married with four grown-up children and enjoys music, hill walking and golf.

The move back to the North-East as successor to the Rt Rev Michael Turnbull, who leaves on April 30, is seen as a welcome return to his roots.

He said: "The call to return to my geographical roots and serve the people of the North-East as Bishop of Durham is exciting and daunting in equal measure.

"Durham has a long tradition of scholar-bishops. All my adult life I have lived at the interface between biblical scholarship and the life of the church, and I hope to be able to bring fresh insights from historical and theological work to bear on the mission and life of the church.

"In particular, my work on Jesus, most recently on his resurrection, constantly gives me fresh hope for what God will do in our own day, and I welcome the chance to share this vision with both clergy and laity."

The current Bishop said Tom Wright was an excellent choice. "The Diocese will be fortunate to have a scholar whose teaching is accessible and orthodox and also to have a warm-hearted person who will be welcomed widely in the North-East."

Canon Wright studied for the ministry at Wycliffe Hall, Oxford and was ordained as Junior Research Fellow and Junior Chaplain at Merton College.

From 1978 to 1981 he was Fellow and Chaplain at Downing College, Cambridge, and then moved to Montreal as assistant professor of New Testament Studies at McGill University. In 1986 he returned to Oxford as university lecturer in New Testament, and Fellow and Chaplain of Worcester College, Oxford.

He became Dean of Lichfield in 1994, and Canon Theologian of Westminster Abbey in 2000.