The Very Rev Dr David Monteith has been appointed as the new dean of Canterbury, Downing Street has announced.
As one of the last appointments made by her late Majesty the Queen, Rev David success the Very Rev Dr Robert Willis following his retirement.
Rev David grew up in County Fermanagh, Northern Ireland, during the Troubles. He then studied at Durham University before training for ministry at St John's College, Nottingham.
After being ordained priest in 1994, the 54-year-old was appointed curate at St Martin-in-the-Fields, in the Diocese of London, and in 2000 he became associate vicar. In 2002, he became priest-in-charge at Holy Trinity, Wimbledon and served are dean of Merton simultaneously.
Seven years later, Rev David became team rector for Merton Priory Team Ministry and additionally went on to serve as canon chancellor of Leicester Cathedral. In 2013, he became the dean of Leicester.
Rev David said he is "overjoyed" and "humble" to become the dean of Canterbury.
"Canterbury Cathedral has played a vital part in our Christian story in England, but it is also much loved by so many communities across the Anglican Communion. So I already can see there is much to steward and much to imagine anew as our context reshapes.
"I have been a priest for many years but I also bring my experience of growing up in the Church of Ireland during the Northern Irish 'Troubles'."
He continued: "I'm looking forward to working with Archbishop Justin, Bishop Rose, the Cathedral Chapter and her communities to ensure our worship inspires, our prayer undergirds, our outreach transforms us and others, and our witness reveals more of God's expansive Kingdom of love, mercy and peace.
"I hope hospitality in the name of Jesus Christ and a profound openness to the entire wider community will mark all we offer especially as we face this challenging time of rising costs and human hardship."
The Archbishop of Canterbury took to Twitter to share his "delight" at Rev David's appointment. Rev David's "deep faith and spirituality, creativity, and profound sense of service will be a gift to Canterbury Cathedral and all the communities it serves."
He continued: "We will benefit greatly from David's experience and perspective, not least from his work in helping diverse faiths and cultural communities to live well together. I share his vision of a Canterbury Cathedral that blesses and serves the people of Canterbury, the Church of England and the global Anglican Communion. I look forward to working with David and I join many in praying for him over the coming months."
Rev David shares his life in a Civil Partnership with David Hamilton, a palliative care and bereavement counsellor.