A new Church of Ireland primate will be chosen next week.

The church announced yesterday that its House of Bishops is meeting together at an undisclosed venue to elect the successor to Dr Richard Clarke, the former Archbishop of Armagh and Primate, who retired earlier this month.

It was also announced yesterday that Archdeacon George Davison has been elected as Bishop of Connor to succeed the Rev Dr Alan Abernethy, who stepped down at the end of last year.

Members of the House of Bishops will be meeting next Thursday and Friday and the result will be known shortly after the new Primate is appointed.

Dr Clarke (70) served as a Bishop in the Church of Ireland for 23 years.

He was Bishop of Meath and Kildare from 1996 to 2012, and Archbishop of Armagh and Primate from 2012 until his recent retirement. His first appointment after ordination was as a curate in Holywood.

He announced his retirement at the Armagh Diocesan Synod late last year, and said that his time in Armagh had "truly been a very agreeable experience".

His likely successor is thought to be the Rt Rev John McDowell, the current Bishop of Clogher (64), who was educated at Annadale Grammar School and Queen's University, as well as the London School of Economics and Trinity College, Dublin.

However, there is nothing certain until the Bishops enter their conclave this week and make their decision.

The election of a new Archbishop of Armagh and Primate differs from that for the election of a Bishop.

The choice of a new Bishop is the responsibility of the electoral college of the Diocese, but if its members fail to come to a decision after a number of meetings, the matter is taken over by the House of Bishops who will decide on who is appointed.

The appointment of the Archbishop and Primate is made solely by the House of Bishops, which has 12 members.

However, the number drops to 10 this week because Dr Clarke is out of office and the Bishop-elect for Connor cannot take part until his consecration, for which a date has not yet been set.

The Venerable George Davison is the current Archdeacon of Belfast, Rector of St Nicholas' Church, Carrickfergus, clerical Honorary Secretary on the General Synod for the Northern Province, and formerly Archdeacon of Kilmore and Rector of Kinawley in the Diocese of Kilmore, Elphin and Ardagh.

He was born in 1965 and ordained in 1992. He and his wife Nadine have two adult children, Erin and James.

Belfast Telegraph