King approves appointment of the new Bishop of Jarrow
The new Bishop of Jarrow has been officially approved by The King.
The new Bishop of Jarrow has been announced by Downing Street following approval from The King.
Following approval by head of the Church of England, King Charles, Dr Jitesh Patel succeeds the Right Reverend Sarah Clark who became Bishop of Ely in June year.
Currently assistant director and lecturer in theology at St Mellitus College East Midlands and associate vicar at Holy Trinity in Leicester, Jitesh was previously director of contextual training for the Diocese of Leicester, overseeing training and formation there.
The new Bishop of Jarrow
Ordained in 2010, he brings 16 years of parish ministry experience, plus seven years of leadership and teaching within theological education.
From a Hindu Indian diaspora family, Dr Patel became a Christian while studying physics at Oxford University.
He is married to Bridget and they have two daughters. In his spare time he enjoys “running, board games, good food and reading widely”.
Dr Patel said: “Since first discerning this call to be the next Bishop of Jarrow, I have been praying daily for the people and places of the diocese, asking God to bring widespread renewal, for individual lives to be radically transformed by the saving love and power of Christ and for vocations of all types to be raised in partnership with all that the Holy Spirit is already doing.
“I look forward to playing my part in the answer to such prayers in the years to come as I serve under Bishop Rick’s leadership.
“Though there are challenges and opportunities facing the diocese, I believe this missional call is its most central, and I am looking forward to helping raise disciples of all types and backgrounds, especially unlikely ones, to meet this call.”
Praise from the Bishop of Durham
Welcoming the appointment, the Bishop of Durham, Rick Simpson said: “I am absolutely delighted to welcome Jitesh as the next Bishop of Jarrow.
“The advisory panel and I were clear that we saw in Jitesh the gifts and experience in mission and ministry we are seeking in someone to help us develop the lay and ordained leaders we need to make this change, and to join me in supporting local churches and ministers across the diocese.”
The Reverend Dr Jitesh Patel will be consecrated at York Minster on Tuesday, December 8.