The Bishop of Portsmouth, the Rt Rev Christopher Foster, is to retire after a farewell service at Portsmouth Cathedral, leaving 'valued friends' across the Isle of Wight and Hampshire.

On Saturday, the 67-year-old will step down as the ninth Bishop of Portsmouth after more than 10 years in the role.

His wife, the Rev Sally Davenport, team rector at Holy Trinity and St Columba, Fareham is also retiring.

A live-streamed service will include the symbolic moment when Bishop Christopher lays his crozier – the shepherd’s crook that signifies his role as leader of his flock – onto the altar at the east end of the cathedral, before leaving by the west doors.

From that moment, he is no longer Bishop of Portsmouth.

A specially-commissioned piece of music, written by contemporary US composer Nico Muhly, will accompany the departure and the setting of Hymnus in Natale Martyrum will receive its global premiere at the service.

It uses the notes C and F – the bishop’s initials – played throughout the second half of his piece, as part of his tribute.

Fellow bishops and colleagues have paid tribute to Bishop Christopher as a wonderful, wise, generous and supportive colleague.

Bishop Christopher had delayed his retirement to lead the Diocese of Portsmouth through the Covid pandemic.

The process to find his successor has already begun, with meetings of the Crown Nominations Commission, chaired by the Archbishop of Canterbury, expected to identify suitable candidates for the post this summer.

In the interim, the Area Bishop of Edmonton will help to lead the Diocese of Portsmouth.

The Rt Rev Rob Wickham will be the ‘commissary bishop’ for the diocese, one of only two in the Church of England to have no suffragan (assistant) bishop.

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.

"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."

Due to Covid-19 restrictions, there are strict limits on the number of people who can be in the cathedral for Saturday's farewell service, but hundreds are expected to watch the live-streamed service.

It will start at 4pm, on Saturday, April 24.