THE process of choosing the next Archbishop of York has moved a step forward.

Six people have been elected to represent the Diocese of York on the Crown Nominations Commission, which will ultimately submit two names to the Prime Minister as candidates for the job.

They were elected at the first meeting of the York Diocese's Vacancy-in-See Committee, which is elected by the York Diocesan Synod to participate in the process of nominating a new archbishop.

The Archbishop of York, in addition to his role in the national Church of England and as Primate of the Province of York is Bishop of the Diocese of York, which includes up to 600 churches.

As members of the Crown Nominations Commission, the six Diocesan representatives will join with six other members elected by the General Synod, the Archbishop of Canterbury and others to make their choice.

They are looking for a successor to Dr David Hope, who is stepping down to become a parish priest in Otley, West Yorkshire, next year.

The public are being invited to write to the diocesan representatives with their views or suggested names by November 30.

They include the Archdeacon of Cleveland, the Venerable Paul Ferguson, at 2 Langbaurgh Road, Hutton Rudby, Yarm; Jennifer Reid, of Healam, 9 Poplars Road, Linthorpe, Middlesbrough; Ian Smith, of 11 School Lane, Fulford, York; and the Reverend Canon Glyn Webster, of 4 Minster Yard, York.