Churches Together in England (CTE) has this month announced the appointment of a new General Secretary.

The Rev Dr David Cornick will take over leadership of CTE next spring from the outgoing Rev Bill Snelson, who has held the office for the last 10 years.

Rev Cornick comes to the position with a wealth of experience in leadership. He has been General Secretary of the United Reformed Church since 2001 and prior to that was Principal of Westminster College, Cambridge, a ministerial training college of the United Reformed Church. During his time there, he also enjoyed a period as Vice-President of the Cambridge Theological Federation.

Rev Cornick is a committed ecumenist, having been at one time a URC minister within the Radlett ecumenical parish, before becoming chaplain of Robinson College Cambridge which was at the time the only ecumenical college chaplaincy in Oxbridge.

"My passion for the ecumenical journey has shaped my spirituality and the direction of my ministry," he said. "I believe that ecumenism will always remain a significant dimension in British church life, and could become a key dimension."

Rev Cornick was educated at Hertford College, Oxford, King's College, London and Mansfield College, Oxford. He was awarded a PhD in Church History in 1982.

Rev Peter Whittaker, Chairman of the CTE Enabling Group, welcomed Rev Cornick's appointment.

"From a very strong field we were more than pleased to appoint someone who has the vision to take Churches Together in England forward from its already vibrant and significant role," he said.