14 Facts About Mark Ashcroft

Mark David Ashcroft was born on 3 September 1954 and is a British retired Anglican bishop.

Mark Ashcroft had previously been Archdeacon of Manchester from 2009 to 2016.

Mark Ashcroft was educated at Rugby School, then an all-boys public school in his home town.

Mark Ashcroft studied at Worcester College, Oxford, graduating with a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1977; as per tradition, this BA was promoted to a Master of Arts in 1982.

In 1979, Mark Ashcroft entered Ridley Hall, Cambridge, an Anglican theological college in the Open Evangelical tradition, to train for ordained ministry.

Mark Ashcroft graduated from the University of Cambridge with a BA degree in 1981.

Mark Ashcroft undertook a further year of training at Ridley Hall, before being ordained in 1982.

Mark Ashcroft was ordained in the Church of England as a deacon in 1982 and as a priest in 1983.

Mark Ashcroft spent 1986 to 1996 as a member of the academic staff of St Paul's College, Kapsabet, one of the theological colleges of the Anglican Church of Kenya; he was a tutor between 1986 and 1989, and its principal between 1990 and 1996.

Mark Ashcroft was rector of Christ Church, Harpurhey from 1996 to 2009, and area dean of North Manchester from 2000 to 2006.

On 22 June 2016, it was announced that Mark Ashcroft would become the next Bishop of Bolton, a suffragan bishop in the Diocese of Manchester.

Mark Ashcroft was consecrated a bishop on 18 October 2016 by John Sentamu, Archbishop of York, during a service at York Minster.

On 18 July 2022, it was announced that Mark Ashcroft would retire as Bishop of Bolton during February 2023.

Mark Ashcroft retired on an unrevealed date following his farewell service at Manchester Cathedral.