A FORMER civil servant has been consecrated as the new Bishop of Jarrow in York Minster.

The Venerable Sarah Clark succeeds the Right Reverend Mark Watts Bryant who resigned in October 2018.

The Rt Revd Paul Butler, Bishop of Durham said he was thrilled, adding: “I look forward to her welcome service in Durham Cathedral on April 7 when she will begin her ministry with us.”

The welcome service will be held at 3.30pm.

Prior to training for ordination, Bishop Sarah was a civil servant in the Department for Employment.

She hopes her roots in an ex-mining community in the South Wales Valleys will give her an affinity for the people and places in the diocese of Durham. She will take on responsibility for those considering and in training for ordination.

Yesterday's double consecration, conducted by the Archbishop of York Dr John Sentamu, saw The Reverend Emma Ineson consecrated as the Bishop of Penrith.