 Pearson was appointed Bishop of Lancaster — the sole suffragan bishop of the Diocese of Blackburn — in 2006, took up his See with his consecration as a bishop on 2 November 2006 and was installed not long after at Blackburn Cathedral.He has dedicated much of his ministry to the prioritisation of gospel work amongst children and young people.A keen hillwalker, Pearson married in 1973 and they now have three adult children.