Baptist Bishop leaves India for St Albans

There is something unusual about one of the delegates to a conference of International Bishops, being held in Canterbury, from 20th to 28th January: the Rt Rev Dr Samson Das, Bishop of Cuttack Diocese in India.

Unusually, Bishop Das, 44, comes from the Baptist rather than the Anglican church tradition and, uniquely, this is his first visit to the UK and he will be based in Marshalswick, St Albans, for a while after the conference.

During his time in Marshalswick, staying as a guest of Marshalswick Baptist Free Church, the Bishop will have a personal meeting with the Bishop of St Albans, the Rt Rev Christopher Herbert. He will pay a visit to an ecumenical church in Milton Keynes and conclude his stay by preaching at Marshalswick Baptist Free Church’s morning service on Sunday 4th February as well as at Evensong at St Albans Abbey that evening.

"Although Baptists do not appoint bishops, Dr Das bears the title and responsibility of ‘Bishop’ because the Baptist churches in Orissa, in India, joined the Church of North India (CNI) when it was formed," explained the Rev Graham Clarke, minister of Marshalswick Baptist Free Church. "The Baptist work in Orissa was begun by British Baptists working with the Baptist Missionary Society (BMS) and Dr Das gained a doctorate after writing a thesis about this connection with the BMS.

"As a church, we are continuing to support a CNI-sponsored rural hospital in Diptipur, in West Orissa," he added. "Although perpetually short of funds, this hospital is performing vital healthcare work in that community – and we are keen to have an update on its work from Dr Das."

End

Notes for Editors

The Rt Rev Dr Samson Das is available for interview. To arrange an interview, please contact Bob Little Press & PR (01727 860405 or bob.little@dial.pipex.com) or the Rev Graham Clarke (01727 857786 or minister@mbfc.org.uk).

You are also welcome to hear Dr Das speak at the morning service at Marshalswick Baptist Free Church (from 10.15am on Sunday 4th February) and at Evensong at St Albans Abbey (from 6.30pm on Sunday 4th February).


About the Diocese of Cuttack

The Diocese of Cuttack is the oldest of three Church of North India (CNI) Dioceses in Orissa.
The Diocese runs educational institutions, including schools and one college in the urban centres of Cuttack and Bhubaneswar. It also runs schools in people’s homes in the rural areas. Most of these were started by the Baptist Missionary Society (BMS) and continue to provide vital educational services. However they are limited mostly to the urban elite. On the other hand, village Christians have remained poor for generations. They have suffered neglect, discrimination and deprivation.

Within the Diocese, there are 28 pastorates; 135 Christian congregations, and 12,214 communicant members.

About the Rt Rev Dr Samson Das, Bishop of Cuttack

The Rt Rev Dr Samson Das, Bishop of Cuttack was born in Puri, Orissa, in 1963.

He was initially educated at Puri school and college. He was awarded a Bachelor of Divinity degree from Serampore College, Kolkata, India in 1996. In 1997/98, he completed a Special Programme of Advanced Theological Studies from Tainan Theological College and Seminary, Taiwan, and, in 2001, he received a Doctorate in Ministry.

From 1986 to 1992, he worked as a Missionary in the Khond Hills at Baliaguda, Phulban District; from 1993 to 1996, he worked as the Presbyter at Oriya Baptist church at Behampur and from 1996 until June 2000, he was the Presbyter-In-Charge of the English Baptist Church in Cuttack. Within the Diocese of Cuttack, he has also served as Youth Director, Vice President, Secretary and Bishop’s Commissary.

About Marshalswick Baptist Free Church

Marshalswick Baptist Free Church (MBFC) is actively involved in serving the needs of the local community, including making its premises available to non-members. There are a number of events and activities for all church members and adherents. On a weekly basis, some 15 different organisations and some 1,000 people a week use the church’s premises.

Moving to its current premises in 1968 and becoming Marshalswick Baptist Free Church, the church dates from 1880 when, as Tabernacle Baptist Church, it met first in the Corn Exchange, St Albans. Later, it met (under the patronage of the famous Baptist preacher the Rev Charles Haddon Spurgeon) in purpose-built premises in Victoria Street in the centre of St Albans.

Further information from:

The Rev Graham Clarke, Minister, tel 01727 857786
Bob Little, Bob Little Press & PR, tel 01727 860405