Downing Street has announced that the next Bishop of Leeds will be the Bishop of Bradford, Dr Toby Howarth.
Bishop Toby, who will take up the role in the autumn, has been acting diocesan Bishop since Rt Rev Nick Baines retired in November.
He said he feels a "deep sense of joy" to have been called to serve a diocese he has "grown to love" since he became Area Bishop in 2014. He added that it was "Joy to be working with such a rich diversity of churches and cathedrals, schools and chaplaincies, faith and community partners, businesses, institutions and statutory services filled with people of goodwill working in often challenging contexts."
"Joy to be part of such a committed and talented diocesan staff team."
“But also longing. Longing for us all to experience more and more of God’s abundant love in Jesus transforming our lives, our homes and our communities.”
Bishop Toby was born in Kenya and went to school at Haverstock Comprehensive in North London. He received scholarships to study at high school and Yale University in the United States, including a summer working with Afghan refugees in northern Pakistan. On coming back to Britain, he was a research assistant for Rev Dr John Stott for two years before becoming a postman in the East End of London.
After training in Oxford, Birmingham and Uganda, combining Christian theology with an MA in Islamic Studies at the University of Birmingham, Toby was ordained and served in an inner-city parish in Derby. He then moved to India with his family for five years, during which he did research in Islamic preaching for a PhD from the Free University of Amsterdam.
Returning to Europe, he served with a Dutch church in Rotterdam before moving back to Birmingham where he taught Islamic studies and worked as a tutor and then at Crowther Hall in Selly Oak.
In 2004 he took up parish work again as vicar of St Christopher's, Springfield and was then called to become the Bishop of Birmingham's Adviser on Inter-Faith Relations. In 2011 he became Interreligious Affairs Secretary for the Archbishop of Canterbury.
Bishop Toby is married to Henriette, who is also ordained, and they have three adult children. He will be confirmed in the role in the autumn by the Archbishop of York at York Minster. Three services of welcome and installation will follow at Bradford Cathedral, Ripon Cathedral and Wakefield Cathedral.
Commenting on the appointment, the Archbishop of York, the Most Rev Stephen Cottrell said: "Leeds is a remarkable Diocese, shaped by a rich history, extraordinary diversity and a deep commitment to sharing the hope of Jesus Christ in every community. Bishop Toby knows and loves this Diocese so well. I am delighted that he will lead the next chapter of the life and witness of the church in this place.
"Bishop Toby's passion for sharing the good news of the Gospel alongside his profound commitment to interfaith dialogue equip him to serve all those who call these communities home."