He made the announcement at the college conference on Thursday. The relevant governors at Spurgeon's were informed of his decision to step down next year in July 2011 and have been planning the succession ever since.

Dr Wright has been principal since 2000 and, by the time he retires (on 31 August, 2013) he will have served the college for 21 years; it will also have been 40 years since he was ordained into Baptist ministry by Dr George Beasley-Murray.

Under his leadership the college has grown in size and expanded its range of courses, adding additional lay training through its Equipped to Minister course. It has also developed its further ministerial education through the Centre for Continuing Ministerial Development, which has just completed its first decade in operation.

Dr Wright served as president of the Baptist Union of Great Britain from 2002-3 and has been widely involved both in European Baptist life and in the Baptist World Alliance (BWA) as a representative of the Baptist Union. He was recently named as a participant in the BWA's theological conversations with the Pentecostal World Fellowship.

Dr Wright is widely known as a lecturer, preacher, author, advisor and pastor. He is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts, a Fellow of the Higher Education Academy and a Fellow of the Royal Historical Society.

He is married to Judy and they have two children and two grand-daughters. On retirement Dr and Mrs Wright will return to live in the North West of England and 'to find out what happens next'.

Sarah King, chair of governors at Spurgeon's College, said, 'Nigel Wright has served the college with huge distinction for many years and has now announced - as planned - that he will be starting a well-earned retirement in a year's time. We are now actively seeking his successor.

'We wish Nigel and his family a long and happy retirement.'

The Revd Jonathan Edwards, general secretary of the Baptist Union of Great Britain, said that Dr Wright had also served the denomination with huge distinction.

'He has been a clear and bold communicator and time and again has spoken powerfully into the life of our Baptist community.

'He will be best known for his two decades at Spurgeon's College but he also served for a total of 18 years in local churches.  His many years in local ministry have ensured that his academic work has always been rooted in a firm grasp of local needs and opportunities.

'He has been a superb principal and I know that there will be thousands of people all over the world who will be giving thanks for his lively and challenging ministry.  We will pray that Nigel's final year at Spurgeon's will be full of blessing, and we will also remember the college as it begins to reflect on the appointment of a new principal.'