Toby Howarth
Toby Howarth | |
|---|---|
| Bishop of Bradford | |
.jpg) Bishop Howarth in 2020 | |
| Church | Church of England |
| Diocese | Diocese of Leeds |
| In office | 2014 to present |
| Other post | Bishop-designate of Leeds (2026) |
| Orders | |
| Ordination | 1992 (deacon) 1993 (priest) |
| Consecration | 17 October 2014 by John Sentamu |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 12 July 1962 |
| Denomination | Anglicanism |
| Education | Yale University Wycliffe Hall, Oxford University of Birmingham Free University of Amsterdam |
Toby Matthew Howarth (born 12 July 1962) is a Church of England bishop. Since 2014, he has been the Bishop of Bradford, a suffragan bishop in the Diocese of Leeds. In July 2026, it was announced that he would be the next Bishop of Leeds, having acted as acting diocesan bishop during the episcopal vacancy.
Early life and education
[edit]Howarth was born on 12 July 1962 in Kenya.[1][2] He was educated at Haverstock School, a comprehensive school in Haverstock, London.[3] He studied at Yale University, graduating with a Bachelor of Arts (BA) degree in 1986.[4] After returning to the UK, he worked for two years as research assistant to John Stott, a prominent conservative evangelical Anglican minister.[2]
In 1989, he entered Wycliffe Hall, Oxford, an evangelical Anglican theological college to train for ordination.[4] During this time he also a postgraduate student at the University of Birmingham, completing a Master of Arts (MA) degree in Islamic studies in 1991.[2][4] Following ordination, he continued his studies and undertook research in India on Islamic preaching for a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) degree with Free University of Amsterdam;[5] he completed his PhD in 2001.[4] His doctoral thesis was titled "The pulpit of tears: Shî'î Muslim preaching in India".[6]
Ordained ministry
[edit]Howarth was made deacon on Michaelmas (27 September) 1992, at Derby Cathedral, by Peter Dawes, Bishop of Derby.[7] He was then ordained in the Church of England as a priest the following year.[4] His first post was a curacy at St Augustine's Church, Derby, in the Diocese of Derby, from 1992 to 1995.[8] Then, from 1995 to 2000, he was in India with Crosslinks, an evangelical Anglican missionary society.[4] He was also a research student at the Henry Martyn Centre for Reconciliation and Interfaith Relations in Hyderabad, India.[8] He was then an evangelist at the Pilgrim Fathers Church, Rotterdam, Netherlands, from 2000 to 2002.[8]
In 2002, Howarth was appointed vice principal and tutor at Crowther Hall, Selly Oak, a Church Mission Society training college.[8] He also held permission to officiate and then licence to officiate in the Diocese of Birmingham during this time.[4] In 2004, he returned to parish ministry in the Church of England as priest in charge at St Christopher's Church, Springfield.[2] From 2005, he was also the Bishop of Birmingham's advisor on interfaith relations.[3] He was then the Archbishop of Canterbury's secretary for international relations from April 2011 until his elevation to the episcopate.[9][10]
Episcopal ministry
[edit]On 26 August 2014, he was announced as the next Bishop of Bradford, a suffragan and area bishop in the Diocese of Leeds.[5][11] He was consecrated as a bishop on 17 October 2014 during a service at York Minster.[9] He became acting Bishop of Leeds on 1 December 2025, following the retirement of Nick Baines.[12]
On 31 July 2026, it was announced that he would transition from his suffragan see to become Bishop of Leeds, the diocesan bishop of the Diocese of Leeds.[13]
Personal life
[edit]In 1994, Howarth married Henriette.[8][14] She is also ordained in the Church of England.[15] Together they have three children.[2]
Selected works
[edit]- Howarth, Toby M. (2005). The Twelver Shîʿa as a Muslim minority in India: pulpit of tears. London: Routledge. ISBN 978-0415362344.
References
[edit]
- ↑ "Howarth, Toby Matthew". Who's Who. Vol. 2017 (November 2016 online ed.). A & C Black. Retrieved 21 December 2016. (Subscription or UK public library membership required.)
- 1 2 3 4 5 "The Rt Revd Toby Howarth to be the new Bishop of Leeds". www.archbishopofyork.org. Archbishop of York. 31 July 2026. Retrieved 1 August 2026.
- 1 2 "✠ The Rt Revd Toby Matthew HOWARTH". The Church of England Year Book. Church House Publishing. Retrieved 1 August 2026.
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 "Toby Matthew Howarth". Crockford's Clerical Directory (online ed.). Church House Publishing. Retrieved 1 August 2026.
- 1 2 "Suffragan Bishop of Bradford: Toby Matthew Howarth". GOV.UK. Prime Minister's Office, 10 Downing Street. 26 August 2014. Retrieved 1 August 2026.
- ↑ Howarth, Toby Matthew (2001). The Pulpit of Tears: Shîʻî Muslim Preaching in India (PhD thesis). Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam. Retrieved 1 August 2026.
- ↑ "Michaelmas ordinations". Church Times. No. 6765. 9 October 1992. p. 6. ISSN 0009-658X. Retrieved 17 April 2024 – via UK Press Online archives.
- 1 2 3 4 5 "Bradford, Area Bishop of, (Rt Rev. Toby Matthew Howarth) (born 12 July 1962)". Who's Who 2026. Oxford University Press. 1 December 2025. doi:10.1093/ww/9780199540884.013.u282438. Retrieved 1 August 2026.
- 1 2 "Bishop of Bradford". www.leeds.anglican.org. Diocese of Leeds. Retrieved 1 August 2026.
- ↑ Crockford's on-line accessed 3 December 2014
- ↑ "Huddersfield's first ever bishop named as Jonathan Gibbs". BBC News. 26 August 2014. Retrieved 22 November 2014.
- ↑ "Vacancy in See". www.leeds.anglican.org. Diocese of Leeds. Retrieved 1 August 2026.
- ↑ "Appointment of the Bishop of Leeds 31 July 2026". Number 10, Downing Street. 31 July 2026.
- ↑ Birrell, Donna (31 July 2026). "Former postman and Islamic tutor becomes next Bishop of Leeds". premierchristian.news. Premier Christian News. Retrieved 1 August 2026.
- ↑ "Henriette Howarth". Crockford's Clerical Directory (online ed.). Church House Publishing. Retrieved 1 August 2026.
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