A SECOND technology-savvie Bishop in the St Albans diocese is to be ordained in September.

The new Bishop of Hertford is the Rev Paul Bayes, 56, whose appointment was announced yesterday and who succeeds the Rev Christopher Foster who is now Bishop of Portsmouth.

Like the Bishop of St Albans, the Rt Rev Alan Smith, who announced his appointment via an internet video website, the Rev Bayes is a lover of new technology and was accompanied by his new iPad when his appointment was announced yesterday and was posting updates on Twitter through the day @paulbayes.

The Rev Bayes will be one of two Bishops in the diocese assisting the Bishop of St Albans and brings over 30 years experience in ministry to his new role

His most recent position was as the Church of England’s National Mission and Evangelism Adviser in which he travelled across the country to help the Church proclaim the Christian message.

He has also been one of the driving forces behind the Church of England’s Weddings Project which promotes church marriages as a really positive choice for couples.

He said this week: “My first priority will be to get to know the clergy and the churches of Hertfordshire and find out how I can serve and help them as they do the work that really matters in our community”.

The Bishop of St Albans commented: “Paul’s deep Christian faith and his ability to relate to modern life are valuable gifts for the diocese. With his warm personality I am excited abut the impact he will have as he works in partnership with the people of Hertfordshire.”

The Rev Bayes, who is married with three grown-up children, is expected to be ordained Bishop in St Paul’s Cathedral on September 21 and welcomed to the diocese in a service on Saturday, September 25.