The identity of the bishop of the new Church of England Diocese of West Yorkshire & the Dales was being announced by 10 Downing Street today.

But the new diocesan bishop is not believed to be the outgoing bishop of the soon-to-be subsumed Bradford Diocese, the Right Reverend Nick Baines.

Bishop Baines, who was enthroned in Bradford on May 21, 2011 is now on sabbatical until April.

The Diocese of West Yorkshire & the Dales will be the largest diocese geographically in the country, consisting of Bradford, Huddersfield, Leeds, Ripon and Wakefield. Each of these five areas will have its own Area Bishop. The diocesan bishop will also be the area bishop of Leeds.

A Church of England spokesman said the diocesan bishop would be appointing area bishops by the end of this year. It is hoped the new arrangement will enable the Church of England to have a coherent regional voice as well as a distinctive local character.