The Bishop of Lichfield has today welcomed the appointment of Bishop Bernard Longley as the new Archbishop of Birmingham.

The Anglican Diocese of Lichfield and the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Birmingham both include Staffordshire and much of the Black Country in their respective areas.

The Rt Revd Jonathan Gledhill said this afternoon: “On behalf of the Anglican Diocese of Lichfield I warmly welcome Bishop Bernard to be the new Roman Catholic Archbishop of Birmingham. Vincent Nichols was a great friend to us while he was Archbishop of Birmingham, and we look forward to this friendship continuing with Bernard Longley. We will pray for him, support him and gladly work with him as he takes up his new post.”