Leonard Ashton

Leonard James Ashton, (27 June 1915 – 19 January 2001) was an English Anglican bishop and military chaplain. He was the inaugural Bishop in Cyprus and the Gulf, serving from 1976 to 1983. He had previously spent most of his ordained ministry serving in the Chaplains Branch of the Royal Air Force, and rose to become its Chaplain-in-Chief (1969 to 1973).

Early life and education Leonard Ashton was born on 27 June 1915 to Henry Ashton and Sarah Ashton (née Ing). From 1940 to 1942, he trained for ordained ministry at Tyndale Hall, Bristol, an evangelical Anglican theological college.

Ordained ministry Early ministry Leonard Ashton was ordained in the Church of England as a deacon in 1942 and as a priest in 1943. From 1942 to 1945, he served his curacy in Cheadle in the Diocese of Chester. He served in north Wales during 1945, before being posted to Air Headquarters Malaya and Singapore in 1946. From 1949 to 1950, he served at RAF Feltwell in Norfolk. From 1950 to 1953, he served as a lecturer and chaplain at the RAF Chaplaincy School near Cheltenham, Gloucestershire. From 1960 to 1961, he once more served abroad having been assigned to British Forces Arabian Peninsular and Middle East Command. He was also an Episcopal Canon of St George's Cathedral, Jerusalem from 1976 to 1983.