A new bishop says his religion has played a big role in another huge passion – his love for football and Albion.

Barry Hill is soon to be ordained as the Bishop of Whitby having followed Brighton all his life.

And, as he prepares for his new role, the bishop was keen to give a nod to the club in his robes by adding the seagull from the Albion crest into his cope.

The Brighton-mad bishop admitted he had prayed for an Albion win on more than one occasion – and even has grass from the Goldstone centre circle growing in his garden.

Barry at the Amex ahead of one of Albion's European gamesBarry at the Amex ahead of one of Albion's European games (Image: Barry Hill)

Barry, 45, said: “I was behind the goal at Hereford and I said a quick prayer which I like to think was answered.

“I often pray for a Brighton win but I’m sure there’s someone doing the same on the other side.

“I wanted to get the sense that ‘what matters to us matters to God’ in the robe. It was important to reflect that.”

Barry Hill giving his wife Stephanie an Albion scarf on their wedding dayBarry Hill giving his wife Stephanie an Albion scarf on their wedding day (Image: Barry Hill)

Barry, who grew up in Shoreham and went to Cardinal Newman school in Hove, began following Albion as a child and was in Hereford when Brighton were saved from relegation out of the Football League by Robbie Reinalt’s equaliser.

He added that he also had some of the grass from the last game at the Goldstone Ground which he still has growing in his garden.

Barry's copeBarry's cope (Image: Barry Hill)

His love for Albion also extended to his wedding day when he gifted his wife Stephanie a Brighton scarf as she promised to take him for better or worse.

Barry moved from Sussex to Oxford and later Leicestershire but still tries to get down to the Amex for as many games as he can.

He admitted that the number of games he could go to see might go down now that he is moving to the North East – but he had his eyes on tickets for the away end at Newcastle’s St James’s Park.

The Albion seagull on Barry's copeThe Albion seagull on Barry's cope (Image: Barry Hill)

In designing his cope, a ceremonial religious cape, Barry said he wanted to put nods to the Whitby area, including Middlesbrough’s Riverside stadium, and the seascape including a sketch of the seagull featured on Brighton’s crest.

Barry will be ordained on October 10 and will wear the cope for the first time on October 23.