The Bishop of Bradford, the Right Reverend David James, has announced his retirement.

He will step down on July 14 after nearly eight years in office.

He said: “I’m so grateful to God for calling me serve him in the Diocese of Bradford.

“It is an enormous privilege, and an added delight that we have such a diversity of parishes and contexts in which they are set.

“We have some exceptional clergy and Christ-like congregations who live out their faith in their communities with wonderful commitment and compassion.

“My great regret as Bishop is that when I retire next summer I am expected to move out of the diocese.”

The Bishop was appointed in 2002. He had previously served as Bishop of Pontefract. He has also been a vicar in Sheffield and Southampton.

Before ordination he taught university-level chemistry and he has also been a university chaplain and a college governor.

The Archdeacon of Bradford, the Venerable David Lee, said: “It has been a joy to serve alongside Bishop David.

“He has encouraged the church in the Diocese of Bradford to be faithful and future-oriented and, as a Bishop with missionary values, he has galvanised our engagement with the local community and other faith communities.

“He has a particular passion that the church should say ‘yes’ to young people, and the fact that we now have more than 30 paid young people and children’s workers is a huge step forward and indicative of his love and respect for young people.

“Under David’s leadership, Bradford has become known as a ‘permission-giving diocese’ where people are encouraged to try out new things and, if they fail, to see them as a learning opportunity.

“It’s an approach that has inspired a number of clergy from outside the diocese to join us in our mission here.”