Meet the new Bishop of Leeds who has a 'deep sense of joy' after being appointed into top role
Bishop Toby will become the second Bishop of Leeds
The new Bishop of Leeds said he has a “deep sense of joy” after being appointed to the top role.
Rt Revd Dr Toby Howarth has become the second Bishop of Leeds, it was announced by the Prime Minister's office today, after the King approved his nomination for election.
He will lead the Diocese of Leeds, one of the largest dioceses in England that covers West Yorkshire and the Dales, following the retirement of the Rt Revd Nick Baines in November 2025.
Bishop Toby has served as Area Bishop of Bradford in the Diocese since 2014 and has been Acting Bishop of Leeds since Bishop Nick's retirement.
To mark the announcement, Bishop Toby climbed Great Whernside, one of the highest points in the Diocese, to talk about his plans for the role.
He said: "I have a deep sense of joy and longing. Joy to have been called to serve as Bishop of Leeds in this glorious Diocese that I've grown to love over the last twelve years.
“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 faithful and creative people 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 the Revd 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, before moving 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, Toby served with a Dutch church in Rotterdam before moving back to Birmingham, where he taught Islamic studies and worked as Tutor and then Vice Principal at Crowther Hall in Selly Oak.
In 2004 he took up parish work again as Vicar of St Christopher's, Springfield, a church in a majority Muslim area of Birmingham. In addition to the parish role, Toby was the Bishop of Birmingham's Adviser on Inter Faith Relations until April 2011 when he became Interreligious Affairs Secretary for the Archbishop of Canterbury.
In 2014 he became Area Bishop of Bradford, the first person to hold the role in the new Diocese of Leeds. Bishop Toby is married to Henriette, who is also ordained, and they have three adult children.
Commenting on the appointment, The Most Revd Stephen Cottrell, Archbishop of York, 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."
The Diocese of Leeds said Bishop Toby will lead on the next stage of its vision of “becoming confident Christians, growing churches and transforming communities”.
"I am looking forward to working across the Diocese as we take forward that vision together," he added.
"Over the next weeks and months, I will be listening to partners and communities both inside and outside the Church to hear how we can best support churches and leaders to be confident in our mission and purpose, to ensure we are efficient, effective and sustainable as a diocese and to be relevantly living and telling the good news of Jesus in our rapidly changing world."
During the autumn, Bishop Toby will be elected to the role of Diocesan Bishop of Leeds following a joint meeting of the Cathedral Colleges of Canons in Ripon and his election will be confirmed by the Archbishop of York at York Minster.
Three services of welcome and installation will follow at Bradford Cathedral, Ripon Cathedral and Wakefield Cathedral.
From September onwards, Bishop Toby will be undertaking a programme of visits to meet and listen to people from churches, organisations and communities around the Diocese.