THE Bishop of Lancaster has decided to swap the grandeur of Lancaster Cathedral for a life on the road preaching at different churches in the North West.

And in a bid to improve his mission of service to the area's poor and disposed, the Right Rev Patrick O'Donoghue has decided to put the 16 roomed Bishop's House up for public sale.

The lavish property adjacent to the Cathedral is the official residence of the city's bishop but the Right Rev O'Donoghue says he'll be happy to make do with a few rooms in the Cathedral.

"Bishops House is far too big for just one person like me rattling round in it.

I can be accommodated in the Cathedral and certainly don't need 16 rooms.

In the past there's been a sort of status attached to it but for me service is the key and I intend to travel round the diocese to meet people, listen to them and see for myself what's happening."

In a statement to parishioners, the Bishop explained his radical departure from the traditions of the past.

He said: "Our mission is not to pine regretfully for past glories, but to strip ourselves of all the dross that weighs us down and set out joyfully to share with those who want to receive the treasures entrusted to us.

That is why I have proposed that we sell Bishop's House; the grandeur is not appropriate for a shepherd and my needs can be met by a few rooms at the Cathedral.

Bishops always tend to be enfolded by the mighty; even within the family of the Church, they are hedged in by officials and advisors.

I want to break free from that.

My job is not that of Managing Director of The Church plc, but Servant of the Word of God and Shepherd of the Flock."

In June Bishop O'Donoghue will spend a couple of weeks in Barrow before setting off to stay in Blackpool for a while at the end of the summer.

Funds from the sale of the extensive 16 roomed Bishop's House will be used for church projects in the community.

The Right Rev O'Donoghue added: "I want to become a bishop on the move, living for maybe a month at a time in the different deaneries of the diocese.

I want us to get to know each other.

It is not going to be easy to achieve this; the customs, traditions and working practices that chain me to a desk in Lancaster exert a powerful influence.

But we are making a start with some two-week.