The Rev Dr Steven Croft, currently Archbishops' Missioner and and Leader of the Fresh Expressions team, has been appointed as the next Bishop of Sheffield.

As Bishop of Sheffield, Dr. Croft will have oversight over the Church of England parishes in South Yorkshire and including parts of the East Riding near Goole.

Dr Croft will be consecrated as bishop by the Archbishop of York in the New Year and is expected to be enthroned in Sheffield Cathedral in the spring.

His appointment has won the support of the Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr Rowan Williams, and the Archbishop of York, Dr John Sentamu, who in a joint statement said: "The outstanding work he has done as Archbishops' Missioner over the last four years has put the Fresh Expressions initiative very firmly on the map."

The Bishop of Doncaster, Cyril Ashton, today welcomed the appointment on behalf of the Diocese of Sheffield: "The waiting is over. The prayerful process has produced a man of deep faith and commitment who I am sure will lead the diocese through its next stage of outreach and mission with real vigour and enthusiasm."

Dr Croft responded to his appointment, saying: "I intend to spend my first months in the diocese listening to what is happening in the many different communities. I'll be spending time getting to know clergy and parishes but also, I hope, working alongside different people in the community to see South Yorkshire from different points of view."

The former Bishop of Sheffield, the Rt Rev Jack Nicholls, retired in July. He paid tribute to his successor, describing him as a "listener who acts on what he believes to be right".