The Death of Very Rev. Patrick Sookhdeo, Ph.D., D.D.
19 May 2026
The Board of the Oxford Centre for Religion and Public Life (OCRPL) heard with great sadness of the death of Dr Patrick Sookhdeo on 18 May 2026, at the age of 79. Dr Sookhdeo served as Executive Director of OCRPL and was the founder of Barnabas Fund, now known as Barnabas Aid.
Dr Sookhdeo’s family came to the United Kingdom from Guyana in the 1950s. Leaving his Islamic background behind, he became a Christian at around the age of sixteen or seventeen. He later studied at London Bible College, where he met his future wife, Rosemary, who had come from New Zealand.
Together, Patrick and Rosemary founded In Contact Ministries in 1975 — later renamed Servants Fellowship International — based at St Andrew’s, a redundant church building in Plaistow, East London. Their work focused on evangelism and compassionate ministry within multicultural urban communities.
In 1989, Dr Sookhdeo established the Institute for the Study of Islam and Christianity. He and Rosemary also founded Barnabas Fund to provide practical support to persecuted Christians around the world.
In 2000, he obtained a doctorate from the School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS), University of London. Over the course of his life, he authored, co-authored, or edited more than forty books.
Nic Ng of Olive Aid Malaysia said:
“Dr Sookhdeo dedicated much of his life to a cause that the world too often overlooks — the suffering and persecuted Church. His deep compassion for Christians facing hardship, discrimination, and persecution across the globe was the driving force behind the work he helped establish here in South East Asia through Olive Aid Trust. Dr Sookhdeo once said, ‘My inspiration has always been Barnabas, the encourager, who stood up for the suffering saints of the early Church.’”
Bishop Yassir Eric, Presiding Bishop over the Anglican Church’s Global Ekklesia Diocese for Muslim Background Believers and an OCRPL Board member, said:
“I will always remember his love and concern for believers from Muslim backgrounds. He stood with us, encouraged us, strengthened us, and gave dignity and attention to many whom others overlooked. His legacy will endure. His witness will endure. His love for Christ and His Church will continue to bear fruit.”
Metropolitan Philoxenus Mattias Nayis, Patriarchal Vicar of the Archdiocese Germany of the Syrian Orthodox Church, wrote:
“During some of the most painful years endured by the peoples of Syria, Iraq, Lebanon, and the Middle East in general, he stood steadfastly beside the poor, the displaced, the persecuted, and the needy.”
In recent years, Dr Sookhdeo devoted himself to developing and expanding the Oxford Centre for Religion and Public Life, which was founded in Oxford in 2005. OCRPL currently provides theological training for grassroots ministries across Africa and Asia, alongside graduate programmes at Master’s level in partnership with North Eastern Christian University in Nagaland, India, and a doctoral programme with Stellenbosch University in South Africa.
Through this work, the Centre continues to help equip theologically orthodox and biblically grounded leaders for parts of the Church deeply affected by persecution, war, migration, and natural disasters — a fitting legacy for a man who dedicated his life to serving the persecuted Church and preparing for its future.
In the midst of this great loss, the Trustees of OCRPL entrust Rosemary, his family, friends, and colleagues into the care and sustaining grace of the Lord whom Patrick loved and served with energy, integrity, conviction, and self-sacrifice.
“Rest eternal grant unto him, O Lord,
and let perpetual light shine upon him.”