The Bishop of Worcester, Dr John Inge has appointed Dr John Chesworth as the new diocesan inter-faith adviser.

Dr Chesworth is a reader in Kidderminster and works at the University of Birmingham.

In this voluntary role, he will continue to build on the good relationships with members of other faiths across Worcestershire and Dudley.

He is currently working on a huge project to produce Christian-Muslim Relations: A Biographical History 1500-1900. He is also a fellow of the Centre for Muslim-Christian Studies, Oxford, a member of the theology and religion faculty of the University of Oxford and an honorary research fellow of St Stephen’s House, Oxford.

Bishop John said: “I am delighted that John has accepted my invitation to take on this important role. in this diocese we enjoy very good relationships with our sisters and brothers across the various faith communities, and John will help us to strengthen those."Tragic situations in many parts of the world make the task of promoting good relations and positive dialogue all the more urgent. John’s global experience means he is exceptionally well qualified to enlarge and deepen our understanding of world faiths and relations among them.”