The Very Reverend Dr David Hoyle will succeed the Very Reverend Dr John Hall when he retires after 13 years at Westminster Abbey on All Saints' Day, November 1.
Dr Hoyle, 61, is currently Dean of Bristol and chairs the Church of England's
College of Deans.
He will be installed as the 39th Dean of Westminster on November 16, overseeing the spiritual life of Westminster Abbey and leading the Abbey community, which includes 350 staff and 400 volunteers.
Dr Hoyle said: "Westminster Abbey is a wonderful place. It reminds us of our past, speaks of our present identity as a nation and a monarchy, and sets before us the kingdom we can be under God.
"It is a huge privilege to be given the opportunity to work there.
"Dr John Hall is completing an immensely distinguished ministry as Dean.
"Succeeding him, it will be important to sustain the Abbey as a place of pilgrimage and outstanding worship."
Dr Hall said: "It has been, for me, an immense pleasure and privilege presiding over the worship and mission of the Abbey.
"I wish Dr Hoyle every joy and success in his leadership of the Abbey community."
Westminster Abbey is a Royal Peculiar under the jurisdiction of the Dean and Chapter subject only to the sovereign.
Dr Hoyle's appointment was approved by the Queen following an open application process.
He studied history and then theology at Corpus Christi College, Cambridge.
He trained for the ministry at Ripon College Cuddesdon in Oxfordshire, and served his title as Curate of the Church of the Good Shepherd in Cambridge from 1986 to 1988.
He was then appointed Chaplain - then later Dean of Chapel - and Fellow of Magdalene College, Cambridge, where he also served as Director of Studies in Theology.
Dr Hoyle moved to become Vicar of Christ Church in Southgate, north London, in 1995 before transferring to Gloucester in 2002 as Director of Ministry and Canon Residentiary of Gloucester Cathedral.
He has been Dean of Bristol since 2010.
His wife is a primary school headteacher and they have a son, Mike, 27, and a daughter, Katy, 25.
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