The King has formally approved the appointment of the Reverend Doctor Jitesh Krishnakant Patel to the post of Suffragan Bishop of Jarrow, which forms part of the Diocese of Durham in the Church of England. The new bishop holds Master of Arts, Master of Physics, and Doctor of Philosophy degrees. The appointment was announced on 23 October 2026 in accordance with the traditional procedure for the approval of ecclesiastical appointments by the British monarch, who serves as Supreme Governor of the Anglican Church. The Suffragan Bishop of Jarrow performs auxiliary functions under the Bishop of Durham, assisting in the administration of the diocese and pastoral ministry within the assigned territory.