"I have written directly to clergy and LLMs, but I want to especially express my appreciation here for the faithful, generous service that so many parish officers, other leaders and ministers, volunteers and committed parishioners give week by week out of love for Christ and his church in this Diocese. I look forward to working and praying in my new role with all of you who are reading this."

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.

John Dobson (Dean of Ripon), Philip Hobday (Dean of Wakefield) and Jonathan Triffitt (Dean of Bradford) commented: “We were delighted to learn that Bishop Toby is to be the Bishop of Leeds. He will bring prayerfulness, experience, and energy to leading this large and lively Diocese in the coming years. As he steps into this significant and demanding role serving our diverse range of churches and communities, we will do all we can to support him, not least by praying for him daily in each of his three cathedrals, in each of which he will be welcomed warmly.”

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.

Responding to his nomination for election, Bishop Toby 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 12 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 will lead the next stage of the Diocese of Leeds 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 said. "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."

After training in Oxford, Birmingham and Uganda, combining Christian theology with an MA in Islamic Studies at the University of Biringham, 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, 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.