CROYDON may have an "image problem" and some "unfortunate architecture", but the borough's new bishop can't wait to take up his role.

The Reverend Jonathan Clark said fostering community spirit and a sense of pride in the town would be high on his agenda when he takes over in May.

He will succeed the Right Reverend Nick Baines, who has moved to become Bishop of Bradford.

Mr Clark, 50, will be consecrated as a bishop in Southwark Cathedral on March 21 but will not officially take up his duties until later in the spring.

Since 2003 he has been Rector of St Mary in Stoke Newington, Hackney.

He said this week: "I am very excited about this opportunity. I was brought up in Bromley and I have memories of Croydon as a child.

"I am looking forward to finding out what it looks like now."

Mr Clark added that he believed there were similarities between Stoke Newington and Croydon, with both areas having diverse populations combined with areas of both deprivation and considerable wealth.

He said he saw an important part of his job as serving the whole community and helping bring together people who do not usually meet each other.

This was, he said, probably even more necessary as Croydon continued to cope with the repercussions of the August riots.

Mr Clark said: "It is about trying to help people to think that we all have a stake in each other."

He believes that the Church can act as "a conduit" to foster a sense of society and help solve problems.

Looking at Croydon, Mr Clark said he realised that the town had an image problem and had become a media target.

He added: "Croydon does suffer from some unfortunate architecture but that is not the heart of the town.

"A place is about the people who live in it and people are wonderful wherever you go.

"If people have a sense of pride in where they live they can build a better place. I want them to say where they live is the best place in the country."

On the future role of the Church, Mr Clark said he was supporter of the ordination of women as bishops.

The question is an issue in Croydon as Father Donald Minchew, the priest of St Michael and All Angels in West Croydon, has resigned from his post as a protest against women bishops.

Mr Clark said: "If some people feel they cannot support the idea of women bishops I am sad because they are choosing to leave something that is good.

"Women have gifts that we need and I believe women bishops will be a great benefit to the Church."

He added that it was not right that, at present, nearly half the ordained clergy in the Church of England could not be considered for senior roles.

Mr Clark was first ordained as a priest in 1989 and, before becoming rector of St Mary, his posts included Anglican chaplain at the University of Bristol and London Metropolitan University and area dean of Islington.

He is married to Alison, a senior lecturer at the Open University, and the couple have two grown-up children.

Outside of his church work he is a fan of Westray in the Orkney Islands, his favourite place for walking, reading and writing, and a supporter of Tottenham Hotspur football club.