Jitesh Patel

The Reverend

Jitesh Patel
The Reverend; Jitesh Patel
Associate vicar at Holy Trinity Church, Leicester
Church	Church of England
Diocese	Diocese of Leicester
In office	2018 to present
Previous posts	Bishop-designate of Jarrow (2026) ; Assistant director of St Mellitus College East Midlands (2019–present)
Orders
Ordination	2010 (deaocn) ; 2011 (priest)
Personal details
Born	June 1982 (age 44)
Denomination	Anglicanism
Education	Jesus College, Oxford ; Kellogg College, Oxford ; Wycliffe Hall, Oxford

Jitesh Krisnakant Patel (born June 1982) is a British Anglican priest and academic. He has been an associate vicar at Holy Trinity Church, Leicester since 2018, and assistant director and a lecturer in Theology at St Mellitus College East Midlands. In October 2026, he was announced as the next Bishop of Jarrow, the suffragan bishop of the Diocese of Durham.

Biography

Patel was born in June 1982, to a Hindu Indian diaspora family. He grew up in Leicester, Leicestershire, England. He studied physics at Jesus College, Oxford, graduating with a Master of Physics (MPhys) degree in 2004. He converted to Christianity while studying at the University of Oxford. He completed a Postgraduate Certificate in Education (PGCE) at Kellogg College, Oxford, in 2006. He trained for ordination at Wycliffe Hall, Oxford, an evangelical Anglican theological college. During this time, he also studied theology at the University of Oxford, graduating with a Bachelor of Arts (BA) degree in 2009; as per tradition, his BA was promoted to a Master of Arts (MA Oxon).

Patel was ordained in the Church of England as a deacon in 2010 and as a priest in 2011. He served his curacy at Christ Church, Abingdon in the Diocese of Oxford. Then, in 2015, he moved to the Diocese of Portsmouth where he was appointed associate vicar at St Jude's Church, Southsea. In 2018, he was appointed diocesan director of contextual training in the Diocese of Leicester, and also associate vicar (training and development) at Holy Trinity Church, Leicester, a resourcing church in the diocese. The following year, he left his diocesan position, having been appointed assistant director of St Mellitus College East Midlands on 1 August 2019. He was also a lecturer in theology for the theological college. On 20 September 2024, he was awarded a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) degree by thesis via the Lambeth degrees. By October 2026, he was acting director of St Mellitus College East Midlands.

On 23 October 2026, he was announced as the next Bishop of Jarrow, the suffragan bishop of the Diocese of Durham. He will be consecrated as a bishop on 8 December 2026 during a service at York Minster.

Selected works

Patel, Jitesh K. (2025). Charismatics and postmodernity: modernism, postmodernism, and premodernism in the Church of England's Charismatic movement. Eugene, OR: Pickwick Publications. ISBN 979-8385240289.

References

↑ House, Companies. "Jitesh Krisnakant PATEL personal appointments - Find and update company information - GOV.UK". find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk. Retrieved 28 October 2026.
1 2 Gillan, Tony (26 October 2026). "King approves appointment of the new Bishop of Jarrow". Shields Gazette. Retrieved 28 October 2026.
↑ "The Revd Dr Jitesh Patel Announced as the Next Suffragan Bishop of Jarrow". leicester.anglican.org. Diocese of Leicester. 23 October 2026. Retrieved 28 October 2026.
1 2 "Revd Dr Jitesh Patel Announced as Next Bishop of Jarrow". St Mellitus. Retrieved 28 October 2026.
1 2 3 4 Crockford's Clerical Directory 2016-2017. London: Church House Publishing. 2016. p. 681. ISBN 978-0-7151-1098-0.
↑ Birrell, Donna (25 October 2026). "New Bishop of Jarrow announced". premierchristian.news. Premier Christian News. Retrieved 28 October 2026.
1 2 3 "Appointment of the Suffragan Bishop of Jarrow: 23 October 2026". GOV.UK. Prime Minister's Office, 10 Downing Street. 23 October 2026. Retrieved 28 October 2026.
1 2 "Revd Dr Jitesh Patel". St Mellitus. Retrieved 28 October 2026.
1 2 Thornton, Ed (26 October 2026). "Dr Jitesh Patel appointed next Suffragan Bishop of Jarrow". Church Times. Retrieved 28 October 2026.
1 2 3 "Next Bishop of Jarrow announced". durhamdiocese.org. Diocese of Durham. 23 October 2026. Retrieved 28 October 2026.
↑ "The Revd Jitesh Patel". www.leicester.anglican.org. Diocese of Leicester. 8 August 2019. Retrieved 28 October 2026.
↑ "New Bishop of Jarrow announced". The Church of England. 23 October 2026. Retrieved 28 October 2026.
↑ "Degrees Awarded: Doctor of Philosophy by Thesis – The Revd Jitesh Patel". The Faculty Office. The Faculty Office of the Archbishop of Canterbury. 2026. Retrieved 28 October 2026.

[1] House, Companies. "Jitesh Krisnakant PATEL personal appointments - Find and update company information - GOV.UK". find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk. Retrieved 28 October 2026.

[SG_new_Bish-2] 1 2 Gillan, Tony (26 October 2026). "King approves appointment of the new Bishop of Jarrow". Shields Gazette. Retrieved 28 October 2026.

[DoL_Jarrow-3] "The Revd Dr Jitesh Patel Announced as the Next Suffragan Bishop of Jarrow". leicester.anglican.org. Diocese of Leicester. 23 October 2026. Retrieved 28 October 2026.

[Mellitus_next-4] 1 2 "Revd Dr Jitesh Patel Announced as Next Bishop of Jarrow". St Mellitus. Retrieved 28 October 2026.

[Crockford_2016-5] 1 2 3 4 Crockford's Clerical Directory 2016-2017. London: Church House Publishing. 2016. p. 681. ISBN 978-0-7151-1098-0.

[PCN_new-6] Birrell, Donna (25 October 2026). "New Bishop of Jarrow announced". premierchristian.news. Premier Christian News. Retrieved 28 October 2026.

[GOV_bish-7] 1 2 3 "Appointment of the Suffragan Bishop of Jarrow: 23 October 2026". GOV.UK. Prime Minister's Office, 10 Downing Street. 23 October 2026. Retrieved 28 October 2026.

[bio_Mellitus-8] 1 2 "Revd Dr Jitesh Patel". St Mellitus. Retrieved 28 October 2026.

[CT_next-9] 1 2 Thornton, Ed (26 October 2026). "Dr Jitesh Patel appointed next Suffragan Bishop of Jarrow". Church Times. Retrieved 28 October 2026.

[Dur_Dio_bish-10] 1 2 3 "Next Bishop of Jarrow announced". durhamdiocese.org. Diocese of Durham. 23 October 2026. Retrieved 28 October 2026.

[11] "The Revd Jitesh Patel". www.leicester.anglican.org. Diocese of Leicester. 8 August 2019. Retrieved 28 October 2026.

[12] "New Bishop of Jarrow announced". The Church of England. 23 October 2026. Retrieved 28 October 2026.

[13] "Degrees Awarded: Doctor of Philosophy by Thesis – The Revd Jitesh Patel". The Faculty Office. The Faculty Office of the Archbishop of Canterbury. 2026. Retrieved 28 October 2026.