Exeter bishop becomes Lord

Good heavens: he goes to parliament

The Bishop of Exeter is becoming a Lord.

The Right Reverend Robert Atwell will join the House of Lords on Monday, on the benches of the Lords Spiritual.

Twenty-six Church of England bishops sit in parliament's upper house, debating laws that the government wants to introduce.  

They read prayers at the start of each day’s parliamentary business and play an active role in the life and work of the House, including in behind-the-scenes committee work scrutinising draft legislation.

Five bishops - representing the 'great sees' of Cantebury, York, London, Durham and Winchester - have permanent seats. The others are appointed according to length of service. So the longer they're a bishop, the greater the chance of them joining the legislature - the people who help craft the country's laws

Bishop Robert has been Bishop of Exeter, leading the Church of England in Devon, since 2014. So now it's his turn.

He is also the church’s lead bishop on rural affairs and has a keen interest in making sure the voice of rural and coastal communities is heard.

He said “Entering the House of Lords is a great privilege and I hope to be a good spokesperson for the people of Devon.

“I will be look forward to flying the flag for our rural and coastal communities in parliament.”

Bishop Robert gets a slight change in formal address. From Monday he becomes 'The Right Reverend Prelate the Lord Bishop of Exeter.'