On 19 October 2012, North was announced as Martin Warner's successor as Bishop of Whitby. On 16 December 2012, it was announced that North had withdrawn his acceptance of the post because of conflict between his views on women as priests and bishops, his love for the Parish of Old St Pancras and "the views of people in the Archdeaconry of Cleveland".

On 7 November 2014, it was announced that