ON the day that Rt Revd Robert Atwell was named the new Bishop of Exeter, he visited Okehampton to hear first-hand the 'justice within society' provided by the town's foodbank.

The Prime Minister's office announced at 10am on Tuesday that Bishop Robert will become the 71st bishop of the Diocese of Exeter, which comprises more than 500 parishes across Devon.

Bishop Atwell spent the day visiting communities across Devon. One of his first ports of call was the foodbank based at Okehampton Baptist Church, West Park Farm in Iddesleigh and a church-run debt counselling centre in Plymouth, before attending evensong at Exeter Cathedral.

While at the foodbank, Bishop Robert listened to stories from volunteers, and made a donation of food, including some Cheshire cheese brought from his current Diocese of Stockport.

He said: 'I think facilities like Okehampton Foodbank are critical. If we are to believe the Chancellor of the Exchequer and we are coming out of this recession we have faced over the last five years, then one of the things happening nationally is that the gap between the poorest and the richest is greater than it was five years ago.

'It is a real cause for concern.

'In a society where you get polarities like that, you get real problems.

'I personally see food poverty not simply as an act of charity but about justice within society.

'That's why I am so delighted to be here and I'm so proud of the work going on here in Okehampton between the churches for the people of the town and the outlying districts.

The new bishop said coming to Okehampton and seeing Christianity in action at the foodback was 'fantastic'.

Bishop Robert said: 'It is great that it's the churches that have come together and are meeting this real need.

'It's interesting because if I am picking things up correctly, it's not just a problem of unemployment but also of low wages.

'It is a real issue in this part of Devon and in the rural community as a whole. I know that some factories have gone bust in the last couple of years, which has pushed up the unemployment figures. Put those factors together and you have a real problem.

'How great that people should be coming together like this. We should be doing more of this right across the country. It's hugely impressive.'

Aged 59, Rt Rev Atwell spent ten years as a Benedictine monk at Burford Priory in Oxfordshire, and then served as a parish priest in London before becoming Bishop of Stockport in 2008. He leaves his post in Stockport to become the Bishop of Exeter.

He said: 'I'm immensely honoured and a little bit daunted to be chosen as the next Bishop of Exeter.

'From family holidays I know Devon to be a beautiful county, large and full of variety and I'm looking forward to getting to know it better and above all getting to know the people of the county.

'I realise that the picture postcard image many have of Devon isn't the whole truth. There are communities facing great hardships, through poverty and lack of employment, as well as the recent flooding which has affected many people and caused problems for the farming community.

'I've been moved by the stories I've heard of churches and individuals across the county getting stuck in and helping people.'

Bishop Robert pledged to spend time listening to people and explained that his priority will be to lead the Diocese in prayer, witness and service.

'My ten years as a Benedictine monk taught me that all growth is rooted in prayer. God doesn't want us just to exist or to fritter our lives away. He wants us to be fully alive and to serve people with joy,' said Bishop Robert.

He is passionate about the church's role in providing education for all and is looking forward to supporting the 130 church schools serving families all over Devon.

Bishop Atwell will be installed in Exeter Cathedral in July and will be living in Exeter. He succeeds Bishop Michael Langrish, who retired last year.