The Right Reverend Christopher Foster is to retire as Bishop of Portsmouth.

Bishop Christopher, 67, had delayed his resignation so he could lead the Church of England's Diocese of Portsmouth through the Covid pandemic.

He will now step down as bishop in April 2021, alongside his ordained wife, and the couple will retire to Somerset.

He made the announcement on the same day as his wife, the Canon Sally Davenport, told worshippers at Holy Trinity and St Columba Churches in Fareham that she was to resign as their Team Rector.

Bishop Christopher said: "It has been a privilege to serve as bishop in this diocese for over a decade.

"Because we are a small diocese with a family feel, our clergy and lay people have been able to collaborate effectively and respond quickly to changing circumstances – as the past year has shown.

"Over the past 10 years, I have seen courage, generosity and resourcefulness as our congregations have faithfully shared God's love, through prayer, worship and serving others.

"I have seen courage, generosity and resourcefulness" - Right Reverend Christopher Foster, Bishop of Portsmouth

"I look forward to working with those fellow disciples over the coming months to continue discovering what the post-Covid Church will look like as we renew our commitment to respond collaboratively in changing times.

The Rt Rev Christopher Foster has been Bishop of Portsmouth since 2010.

In October, he consecrated ground in Brook, as the church reopened after a year of work.

Isle of Wight County Press:

Bishop Christopher (centre) with church council members Robin Whaite and Rodney Hogg at Brook

Bishop Christopher grew up in the industrial West Midlands and in Surrey, before studying economics at Durham and Manchester Universities and briefly working as an economics lecturer.

He was ordained in 1980, served as a curate in Wolverhampton, and as chaplain of Wadham College, Oxford.

He became vicar of Christ Church, Southgate, in London, in 1986 and worked on the staff of St Albans Cathedral, from 1994.

He was consecrated as Bishop of Hertford in 2001.

He said: "It may seem surprising that I should make this announcement just before Christmas, but the timing means that the period that the Diocese of Portsmouth will be without a diocesan bishop will be as short as possible.

"Thank you to all those who have prayed for us and worked alongside us over the past 10 years, in the churches and communities of south-east Hampshire and the Isle of Wight.

"Sally and I will be sorry to leave so many valued friends and colleagues."

Bishop Christopher married Sally in 2006, following the death of his first wife, Julia.

He has two grown-up children, Richard and Miriam.

He became the ninth Bishop of Portsmouth in September 2010, succeeding the Rt Revd Dr Kenneth Stevenson.

The bishop led the development of a framework for outreach and services in the parishes, chaplaincies and communities of south-east Hampshire and the Isle of Wight – called Live | Pray | Serve.

He has supported initiatives where churches or other groups are seeking to support those in poverty, unemployment and need.

He is Anglican co-chair of the conversations in England and Wales between the Church of England and the Roman Catholic Church, and leads the ecumenical Churches' Funerals Group. Previously he served as convenor/chair of Churches Together in England for four years, also bringing together Christians of different denominations.

In April, a West Wight parishioner won and award instituted by the Bishop, in the name of St Thomas à Becket, patron saint of Portsmouth Cathedral, to mark notable Christian service in the community.

Isle of Wight County Press:

Hazel Britton, presented with flowers from Christ Church, Totland, earlier this year.

Bishop Christopher speaks nationally for the bishops on economic policy, benefits and welfare, and defence.

In the House of Lords, where he was introduced as a Lord Spiritual in 2014, he speaks particularly on the economy and about welfare and benefit issues.

Between March and July this year, he live-streamed Sunday worship from his home in Fareham, alongside Sally, while parishes across the diocese were unable to hold services in church because of the Covid pandemic.

During one such service, he was surprised by his close colleague the Bishop of Salisbury, the Rt Rev Nicholas Holtam, who unexpectedly joined the live-stream to help Bishop Christopher to celebrate 40 years since being ordained.