The Reverend Richard Jackson is riding into Brighton and Hove on his Harley Davidson on a mission to revive the area’s churches.
The new Bishop of Lewes will be installed in May when he will take responsibility for supporting dozens of Church of England ministers and their parishioners.
They face a raft of challenges including – perhaps most pressing of all – financial survival.
Not every church is in dire financial straits but many have had to rely on dwindling reserves to stay open.
And the Diocese of Chichester – the division of the Church of England which includes Brighton and Hove – is also trying to balance its books.
While finance is not central to his job description, Mr Jackson, 53, will find it hard to avoid questions of money. He said that clergy and congregations could expect “an unfolding strategy”.
He said: “A consultation is starting in the summer. There is no doubt there will be some hard decisions over the next couple of years.
“We want to keep worshipping communities and to keep vibrant churches open.”
Where congregations and incomes have fallen, some churches have closed. Others have been placed under the responsibility of a minister or team of ministers serving more than one church.
It is rare to see a more imaginative approach – such as when a team from Holy Trinity Brompton in London took over and revived St Peter’s in Brighton when closure looked likely.
Mr Jackson, a married father of three, is currently the mission renewal adviser and leader of the church growth team in the diocese.
His optimism reflects an optimism in some quarters of his patch which includes the whole of East Sussex including Brighton and Hove.
It follows a dark period when issues such as child abuse brought unwelcome headlines, court cases and critical official reports.
Mr Jackson said: “We are all only too aware of our historic failings with regard to safeguarding. We can’t forget about the past.
“The institutional failings are very clear from various reports. And there are survivors who need care.
“The senior team remain committed to … offering the best pastoral care to those affected. We have an excellent team of professionals working on this on the diocesan staff to ensure that safeguarding is embedded in our culture.
