Indian born priest Reverend Malayil Lukose Varghese Muthalaly has been appointed as the Bishop in the Church of England. The 42-year-old Lukose Varghese, also known as Saju is the youngest person to be appointed to this position.
Saju’s recommendation was made by the UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson following which he was appointed by Queen Elizabeth II.
Saju hails from Kerala, the southern state of India. He grew up in a leprosy hospital in Bengaluru where his mother was a nurse. He did his education at the Southern Asia Bible College in Bengaluru, and trained for the ministry at Wycliffe Hall, Oxford.
Saju has now spent 21 years in England, where he arrived during a gap year. He currently serves as a Vicar at St Mark’s, Gillingham and St Mary’s Island in the Diocese of Rochester, a role which he assumed in 2019. Before this, he was a Priest-in-Charge at the Diocese.
Saju’s wife is Katy and the couple has four children.
Saju will be formally installed and known as Bishop of Loughborough on February 5 after a Welcome Service with guests and representatives of the diocese at Brockington Church of England Academy in Enderby, Leicestershire.
Additional reporting from India Today.