Indian-Origin Vicar Appointed Bishop In Central England

The Reverend Malayil Lukose Varghese Muthalaly, known as Saju, is the Vicar of St. Mark's Gillingham, in the Diocese of Rochester southern England.

An Indian-origin vicar who grew up in the Syrian Orthodox Church in South India has been appointed as the new Bishop of Loughborough, in central England.

The Reverend Malayil Lukose Varghese Muthalaly, known as Saju, is the Vicar of St. Mark's Gillingham, in the Diocese of Rochester – southern England. His appointment to the Diocese of Leicester has been approved by Queen Elizabeth II, according to a Downing Street announcement on Friday.

"The Queen has approved the nomination of The Reverend Malayil Lukose Varghese Muthalaly (known as Saju), Vicar of St Mark's Gillingham, in the Diocese of Rochester, to the Suffragan See of Loughborough, in the Diocese of Leicester, in succession to The Right Reverend Dr Gulnar Francis-Dehqani following her translation to the See of Chelmsford," reads the announcement.

Saju, from Kerala, was educated at the Southern Asia Bible College in Bangalore and trained for ministry at Wycliffe Hall, Oxford. He served his title at St Thomas', Lancaster in the Diocese of Blackburn and was ordained Priest in the Church of England in 2009.