Anthony Ball
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Canon Steward of Westminster Abbey (2016–2025)
Anthony Ball | |
|---|---|
| Director of the Anglican Centre in Rome and Representative of the Archbishop of Canterbury to the Holy See | |
.jpg) Ball in 2024 | |
| Church | Episcopal/Anglican Province of Alexandria Church of England |
| In office | 2025–present |
| Predecessor | Ian Ernest |
| Other posts | Archdeacon of Westminster (2024–2025) Canon Steward of Westminster Abbey (2016–2025) |
| Previous posts | Bishop of North Africa (2024–2025) Area Bishop, Diocese of Egypt (2021–2024) |
| Orders | |
| Ordination | 2001 |
| Consecration | 30 November 2021 by Samy Fawzy |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 1968 (age 57–58) |
| Denomination | Anglicanism |
| Spouse | Celia |
| Children | 1 |
| Alma mater | St Chad's College, Durham (BA) Heythrop College, University of London (MA) |
Anthony James Ball (born 1968)[1] 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.
Ball was born in Rhodesia, present-day Zimbabwe, in 1968, and was raised in southern Africa.[2] 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.[3][4] During his diplomatic career, Ball was ordained as an Anglican priest.[2] He also served in Anglican chaplaincies in Madrid and Damascus, where he was Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams' representative to the heads of the Orthodox churches in Syria and Lebanon.[4]
Westminster Abbey
In 2005, Ball returned to England as an adviser to Williams on Anglican Communion, ecumenical and international affairs. He was later rector of St Nicholas Church, Worth.[5] Ball joined the leadership of Westminster Abbey in September 2016 as canon steward.[6]
Over the course of the next several years, Ball also served as canon rector, rector of St. Margaret’s, almoner and sub-dean.[7] As a canon, he took part in the state funeral of Queen Elizabeth II and the coronation of Charles III and Camilla.[8][9]