Mark Ashcroft

Mark David Ashcroft (born 3 September 1954) is a British retired Anglican bishop. From 2016 until 2023, he was the Bishop of Bolton. He was educated at Rugby School, then an all-boys public school in his home town. He studied at Worcester College, Oxford, graduating with a Bachelor of Arts (BA) degree in 1977; as per tradition, this BA was promoted to a Master of Arts (MA Oxon) in 1982.

In 1979, Ashcroft entered Ridley Hall, Cambridge, an Anglican theological college in the Open Evangelical tradition, to train for ordained ministry. For the first two years, he also studied theology at Fitzwilliam College, Cambridge. He graduated from the University of Cambridge with a BA degree in 1981. He undertook a further year of training at Ridley Hall, before being ordained in 1982. From 1982 to 1985, he served his curacy at St Margaret's Church, Burnage, in the Diocese of Manchester. He 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.

Episcopal ministry On 22 June 2016, it was announced that Ashcroft would become the next Bishop of Bolton, a suffragan bishop in the Diocese of Manchester. He 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 Ashcroft would retire as Bishop of Bolton during February 2023. He retired on an unrevealed date following his farewell service (on 28 January 2023) at Manchester Cathedral.

Personal life Ashcroft is married to Sally. Together, they had three sons.