New Bishop of Loughborough, Diocese of Leicester
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.
The new suffragan bishop will have oversight responsibilities for the Diocesan Intercultural Worshipping Communities, Racial Equity Strategy, Fresh Expressions, and vocations.
He is originally from India where he grew up in the Mar Thoma (Syrian Orthodox) Church.
In response to his selection as Bishop Suffragan, he said;
“It is an honour and a joy to be invited to become the next Bishop of Loughborough and I am looking forward to getting to know the people of Leicestershire.
“My priorities in ministry are profoundly relational. If I have felt anointed in anything, it is in forming friendships, gathering God’s people, and creating hospitable and loving spaces in which people can grow in faith, hope, justice and love.
“I have a deep desire for the flourishing of all people, particularly the poor, those at the margins of our world.”
“I grew up in a leprosy hospital in the city of Bangalore, India, where my mother worked as a nurse. From my earliest memory, my heart has bent towards those who live in poverty. Poor people aren’t just poor people; they are mothers, artists, gifted leaders, friends, people who are passionate about the environment. I have always been drawn to enhance the voice of people who have lived experiences of poverty, whether in a parish in the UK, mission visit to the prisons of Eritrea or through the work I do as one of the directors of ATD Fourth World.”
Bishop-elect Muthalaly is married. He and his wife, Katy have four children. He is a keen cricketer and Captain of the Rochester & Canterbury Diocesan Cricket Team.
