Bradford’s new bishop plans to carry on blogging to keep in touch with the community outside the church.
The Rt Rev Nick Baines, 53, was enthroned as the 10th bishop of Bradford during a ceremony at the city’s cathedral.
The bishop writes a regular online blog entitled “Musings of a restless bishop”.
He said: “There is a single public narrative out there that says that church means empty pews, and it needs to be challenged by people like me.
“That is partly why I blog, because you can confront some of these things.
“New media offers access to people like me, who might otherwise seem to belong to a remote and mysterious world.”
The bishop also regularly speaks on the Chris Evans show on BBC Radio 2.
The enthronement ceremony was attended by 650 people, including 50 bishops, the High Sheriffs of West and North Yorkshire and leaders of other faiths.
Bishop Baines said: “Bradford is a place I came to love when I studied modern languages at the university 30 years ago.
“I look forward very much to working with and serving the churches and communities of this culturally diverse diocese in the years ahead.
“Urban and rural communities face different challenges and I look forward to getting to know the whole diocese as quickly as possible.
“The unique interfaith relationships in this part of West Yorkshire are vital to a flourishing society and I will engage fully in developing them for the common good.”