The Archbishop of York has appointed Rev Canon Dr Mark Powley as his Mission Enabler for the North with a goal of revitalising parishes and planting new churches.

Powley, who is currently the Principal at St Hild theological college, will take up the role in May.

Speaking about the appointment, the Archbishop of York, Stephen Cottrell said: "This is an exciting time in the life of our church and this role has emerged after much prayer and collaboration with Diocesan Bishops and Theological Education Institutions across the Province. 

"Mark brings with him a wealth of experience around empowering individuals and teams to flourish and is passionate about revitalisation of the church in the UK. I very much look forward to working with Mark as we seek the guidance of the Holy Spirit in this pioneering role."

The role has been made possible through funding from the Strategic Development Fund which is there to support mission across the Church of England.

Powley will work across all 12 diocese in the north of England and will work in all contexts including rural, urban, suburban, market towns and coastal towns

Speaking about his new role, he said: "I'm very aware of the vital and promising work already being done to enable new possibilities for church planting and revitalisation across the north. 

"This role will be about encouraging, learning from, and connecting up the things we see God doing. It's a massive task, but also a great privilege to work with partners across the province."

It's hoped the new role will support the creation of hundreds of new worshipping communities and will help the Church become younger and more diverse.