Anthony Ball

Anthony James Ball (born 1968) is a Rhodesia-born British Anglican bishop and diplomat. Since February 2025, he has been director of the Anglican Centre in Rome and the Archbishop of Canterbury’s Representative to the Holy See. Previously, he was bishop of North Africa in the Episcopal/Anglican Province of Alexandria and a canon at Westminster Abbey.

Early life and career Ball was born in Rhodesia, present-day Zimbabwe, in 1968, and was raised in southern Africa. After studies at Durham University, where he reads at St Chad's College, he entered HM Diplomatic Service and held postings in Spain and the Middle East. During his diplomatic career, Ball was ordained as an Anglican priest. Ball joined the leadership of Westminster Abbey in September 2016 as canon steward.

Over the course of the next several years, Ball also served as canon rector, rector of St. Margaret’s, almoner and sub-dean. As a canon, he took part in the state funeral of Queen Elizabeth II and the coronation of Charles III and Camilla.

Episcopacy

On 30 November 2021, shortly after the Province of Alexandria was recognized as a new Anglian Communion province, Ball was consecrated as an assistant bishop in the Anglican Diocese of Egypt. He held this role on a part-time basis while remaining resident at Westminster Abbey. In January 2024, at a service in N'Djamena, Ball was installed as the first diocesan bishop of North Africa—which covers Algeria, Chad, Libya, Mauritania, Morocco and Tunisia—while retaining his appointments at Westminster. Following the installation of Sarah Mullally as Archbishop of Canterbury, Ball was re-commissioned as her personal representative to the Holy See in April 2026.

Personal life Ball is married to Celia and they have one child.