Under the Church union plan of North India and Pakistan of 1965, the Under the Church union plan of North India and Pakistan of 1965, the Church of Pakistan was created on 1st of Nov. 1970. In accordance with the plan, the Anglican Church, United Church, United Methodist and Lutheran Church in Pakistan merged to form the Church of Pakistan. Until 1951 the Anglican Church in East Pakistan was under the Diocese of Calcutta. After 1952 Dhaka became a Diocese of the Church of North India, Pakistan, Burma and Ceylon, and the Oxford Mission brother Rev. James D. Blair was consecrated as the first Bishop of Dhaka Diocese.
Church of Bangladesh Evolved
The Church of Bangladesh came into being as the outcome of the separation from Pakistan. This initially started as a movement which focused on language and finally took shape through the liberation war in 1971 which created a free and independent Bangladesh. Relationship with Pakistan was no longer possible. Therefore, the Synod of the Church of Pakistan on 30th April 1974 declared and endorsed the free and independent status of the Church of Bangladesh.
This process brings together the Anglican and English Presbyterian Churches under the umbrella of the Church of Bangladesh. Here in retrospect it is worth mentioning the contribution of the devotees and missionaries who gave their labor, lives and endured all kinds of trouble to proclaim the Good News and thus established congregations in the different parts of the country and especially in its remotest villages. The Church of Bangladesh always remembers those souls with due respect and pays homage to their memory. These people will remain always dear in our hearts and minds for their devoted work, such as giving the light of education and health services alongside pastoral care.
Bengali Leadership
The initiative began with the upgrading of the national leadership and through sincere efforts of the then emerging and veteran The initiative began with the upgrading of the national leadership and through sincere efforts of the then emerging and veteran leaders of the Church of Bangladesh, Rt. Rev. B.D Mondal was consecrated as the first national Bishop of Dhaka Diocese, Church of Bangladesh on 16 February 1975 at Epiphany Church, Oxford Mission, Barishal. He tried to follow and further move forward in the path of Rt. Rev. J.D Blair encouraging more active participation of the lay leaders from all sections of the congregations of COB.
Creating Additional Diocese
Towards the end of 80’s, owing to scattered geographical set-up of the church and alongside increased volume of work & the continuation of its social ministry more efficiently and effectively, and for the better overall supervision of its pastoral work, the leadership of COB realised and acknowledged the need of a second diocese. Thus a second diocese was established, with its headquarters in the district town of Kushtia, and Rev. Michael S Baroi was consecrated as the Bishop of Kushtia Diocese on 30th Nov 1990 at St. Peter’s Church, Ratanpur. This new born diocese, and the subsequent establishment of a Synod, also completed the national Church structure of the Church of Bangladesh as envisaged by the Church union plan of North India and Pakistan. This new born diocese may be seen as a symbol of the United Church.
With the creation of the Synod, the Rt. Rev. B. D. Mondal became the first Moderator of the Synod and Rt. Rev. M. S. Baroi became the Deputy Moderator and since then both leaders worked together to carry forward the Church. Bishop Mondal retired after 27 years of sincere and untiring service as Bishop and Bishop Michael Baroi became the Moderator of the Church of Bangladesh with Rev. Paul Shishir Sarker consecrated as Bishop of Kushtia Diocese on January 5, 2003 at Epiphany Church, Oxford Mission, Barisal. Bishop Baroi was installed as the Bishop of Dhaka Diocese on January 24, 2003 and Bishop Paul S. Sarker was installed as Bishop of Kushtia Diocese on February 4, 2003.
Bishop Michael S Baroi after 23 years of his valuable service as Bishop took retirement and Bishop Michael S Baroi retired after 23 years of valuable service as Bishop and Bishop Paul Shishir Sarker became the Moderator of the Church of Bangladesh. Rev. Samuel Sunil Mankhin was consecrated as Bishop of Kushtia Diocese on 8th of November, 2009 at St. Andrew’s Mission of Haluaghat, Mymensingh and became the Deputy Moderator of COB.
Bishop Paul Shishir Sarker got retirement in 2018 and Bishop Bishop Paul Shishir Sarker retired in 2018 and Bishop Samuel Sunil Mankhin became the Moderator of the Church of Bangladesh on the 19th November 2018. Rev. Hemen Halder was elected as the Bishop of Kushtia Diocese on 30th November, 2018 and was consecrated as the new Bishop of Kustia Diocese on January 27th, 2019. The holy consecration ceremony took place in Bolonpur Girls High School, Rajshahi.
Creating Barisal Diocese
Rev. Shourabh Pholia was consecrated as the first Bishop of the newly established Barisal diocese of Church of Bangladesh at Christ the King’s Church of Khalishpur, Khulna on Sunday 30th of April 2017.
In 2009 the decision to form Barisal diocese was made and on 12 February 2012 the foundation stone was laid by the Bishop of Llandaff diocese and the ArchBishop of the Church of Wales Rt. Rev. Barry Morgan.
With this change of leadership the Church of Bangladesh has been moving its ministries for the Christians as well as for its neighbors and sharing experiences with the global community through prayer and fellowship.