The team behind the annual Keswick Convention has appointed a new chairman.

Keswick Ministries has welcomed Tim Chester as its new chairman of trustees.

He takes over from John Risbridger, who became chairman of the Christian charity in 2011 and has left to take on a new role with the Evangelical Alliance.

Tim Chester is the pastor of Grace Church in Boroughbridge, North Yorkshire, and a faculty member of Crosslands Training.

He has written more than 40 books, including two in the Keswick Foundations series, Mission Matters: Love Says Go and Bible

Matters: Meeting God in His Word.

He is married with two daughters.

Dr Chester said: "It’s a genuine privilege to have been asked to chair Keswick Ministries and I look forward to supporting James Robson, our ministry director, as he leads the organisation.

"It’s an exciting time for the ministry as the vision of the Derwent Project begins to be realised.

"Becoming chair is also a rather daunting responsibility, especially when you remember those who have gone before, but we have a strong board, a great staff team and an even greater God.”