Mark Tanner

Mark Simon Austin Tanner (born November 1970) is a British Anglican bishop and academic. Since 2020, he has been the Bishop of Chester; he previously served as Bishop of Berwick, a suffragan bishop in the Diocese of Newcastle since his 2016 consecration as bishop; and from August 2011 until his consecration, he was the Warden of Cranmer Hall, Durham, a Church of England theological college.

Early life and education Tanner was born in November 1970 in Canada to Professor Stuart Tanner and Joy Tanner. He was educated at Loughborough Grammar School, an all-boys private school in Loughborough, Leicestershire, England.

From 1992 to 1995, Tanner was a youth pastor at Holy Trinity Church, Coventry, West Midlands. From 1998 to 2001, he served his curacy at St Mary's Church, Upton, Merseyside in the Diocese of Chester. He then moved to the Diocese of Sheffield, and served as the vicar of St Mary's Church, Doncaster from 2001 to 2007. and served as OCM to 21 Engineer Regiment from 2009 to 2011. He also served as OCM to 101st (Northumbrian) Regiment Royal Artillery from 2011 to 2013.

On 12 May 2020, it was announced that Tanner would become the next Bishop of Chester, the Ordinary of the Diocese of Chester. The confirmation of his election as Bishop of Chester, by which he legally took office, took place on 15 July 2020: it was undertaken online due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

On 7 June 2024, he gave the sermon at the wedding of Hugh Grosvenor, 7th Duke of Westminster and Olivia Grace Henson.

On 19 June 2025, Tanner joined the House of Lords as one of the Lords Spiritual, following the retirement of Alan Smith, the Bishop of St Albans. He was introduced to the Lords on 17 July 2025.

Views He abstained during a vote on introducing "standalone services for same-sex couples" on a trial basis during a meeting of the General Synod in November 2023; the motion passed.

Personal life Since 1994, Mark Tanner is married to Lindsay, who is licensed as a Reader in the Church of England. Together they have two children.

Styles Mr Mark Tanner The Reverend Mark Tanner (1998–2015) The Reverend Canon Mark Tanner (2015–2016) The Right Reverend Mark Tanner (2016–present)

Selected works