A vicar has been appointed as a new bishop by the Queen and is set to become the youngest in England.

Reverend Saju Muthalaly is currently in charge of the St Mark’s parish in Gillingham and St Mary's Island, Chatham but after seven years he will now be joining the Diocese of Leicester as Bishop of Loughborough.

The father-of-four 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.

"I am delighted, humbled, overwhelmed but also sad to be leaving the communities at St Mark's and St Mary's Island. I have loved being their vicar and it has been an enormous privilege.

"There are so many wonderful people that I have met, worked and prayed alongside and it will be a huge wrench to leave dear friends. But I will also carry stories, lessons, memories, and of course, hopes with me."

At only 42-years-old, Rev Saju will be the youngest bishop in the Church of England, a title currently held by Bishop of Horsham Ruth Bushyager who is 44.

Rev Saju has been at Gillingham since 2015 initially as priest-in-charge and then vicar in 2019 and throughout his time at the church, says hospitality in parish ministry has been at the heart of his calling.

From the town centre garden project, strategic development funded gospel worship congregation, Dementia Café, Foodbank, Messy Church, Peace and Hope – a worshipping community for those with additional needs – and he has worked with others to create comfortable places to find the love of God.

In his new role as suffragan bishop, Rev Saju will share the oversight of the Diocese of Leicester with the diocesan bishop, The Rt Revd Martyn Snow, Bishop of Leicester.

Alongside the normal duties of a bishop, Rev Saju will focus on the diocese's project to encourage more black, Asian and minority ethnic (BAME) worshippers to participate and lead in church and its Racial Equity Strategy which addresses issues relating to racial justice through dedicated learning sessions.

Rev Saju will also be involved in the development of new communities by connecting with people outside of the church and developing new ways to help them explore the Christian faith and overseeing vocations and training work.

His consecration service is expected to take place in London in January and an official public welcome service will be held in the Diocese of Leicester in the spring.

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