Bishop Philip S. Masih of the Methodist Church, who was the chairman of Calcutta Boys’ School and Calcutta Girls’ High School, died in Lucknow on Tuesday.

Masih had tested positive for Covid-19 and was admitted to a hospital in Lucknow. He was 65. He is survived by his wife, two sons and a daughter-in -law.

The bishop was assigned to the Lucknow Episcopal area that comprises Bengal, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand, Odisha and the northeastern states. He was the chairman of more than 100 schools in these states and two degree colleges in Lucknow. In Bengal, he was the chairman of around 18 schools, including Methodist School, Dankuni, and Mount Hermon School, Darjeeling.

He became a bishop in 2012.

“The bishop was the president of the council of bishops for Methodist Churches. He was an excellent administrator and under his leadership our schools have made great progress. It is a colossal loss,” said Raja McGee, the principal of Calcutta Boys’ School.

Basanti Biswas, the principal of Calcutta Girls’ High School, said it was under his leadership that the school had branched out.

“We (Calcutta Girls’) started schools at Pakur in Jharkhand and in Asansol under his leadership and encouragement...,” said Biswas.

There will be a memorial prayer service on April 16 in a Lucknow church.