THE first Bishop of Swindon, the Rt Rev Michael Doe, is leaving the town to head up an international Christian charity.

He will be globetrotting as General Secretary of the United Society of the Propagation of the Gospel (USPG) primarily in Africa, the Caribbean and India, although the job is London-based.

Bishop Michael, 55, came to Swindon in 1994. He said: "I shall be sorry to leave Swindon. I have enjoyed the past 10 years during which, I hope, the churches have played their part in putting Swindon on the national map.

"My appointment as the first bishop was also a clear recognition by the Diocese of Bristol that it now has two significant centres."

He said that he was disappointed the millennium bid for city status, which he chaired, had failed, but was pleased with major advances now seen in Swindon Churches Together an ecumenical group within which ideas can be exchanged.

He was also delighted he had received an honorary doctorate from the University of Bath in Swindon for his help with the project.

"I feel it is time to move on after 10 years and give someone else a chance to bring a fresh focus as Bishop of Swindon," he said. His successor will not be appointed until after his departure on May 1, next year.

The USPG has been running for 300 years and is a world mission agency with partners in all the countries of the Anglican Communion.

For the past four years the bishop has chaired Churches Together in England but now takes on world-wide responsibilities at a time when Anglican churches are in conflict over issues of human sexuality. Many African churches see homosexuality as sinful.

As the debate on homosexuality in the church came to a head in October over the appointment of a practising gay, Canon Gene Robinson, as Bishop of New Hampshire, Bishop Michael made his own contribution. He said it was acceptable for people with a gay or lesbian orientation to serve as clergy as long as they did not have a same-sex physical relationship.

He supported the appointment of another gay priest, Dr Geoffrey John, as Bishop of Reading. The latter has since stepped down.

Bishop Michael also wrote the book Seeking the Truth in Love to explore Christian viewpoints on the issue.

He added: "Organisations like USPG have a vital role to play in building bridges between churches in different parts of the world, often responding to very different cultures and challenges."

USPG also helps in practical ways such as setting up HIV clinics and in an advocacy role.