The Revd Nicholas Holtam, vicar of St Martin-in-the Fields, is to succeed the David Stancliffe as Bishop of Salisbury.
Nick Holtam has been at St Martin’s for sixteen years.
The church said today in a statement: “He has led us through significant progress and change. The church is thriving and the English speaking and Chinese speaking congregations have grown substantially; visitor numbers now exceed 700,000 each year.
“The life of the church is supported by the business which extends the ministry of hospitality and welcome, and whose annual turnover is now more than £3.5m. A key achievement has been to lead the organisation through our £36m Renewal Project, which began in 2005 and will finish this year.
“The Annual BBC Radio 4 St Martin-in-the-Fields Christmas Appeal – for work with homeless people and those in great need all over the country – has grown from £220,ooo in the mid 1990s to £1.5m today. These achievements are underpinned by his gifts as a kind, wise and prayerful parish priest.”
The foundation stone of the present church of St Martin-in-the-Fields was laid by a Bishop of Salisbury in 1721.
Nick Holtam will leave Trafalgar Square on 10 July and be enthroned at Salisbury in early October.