Paul Ferguson (bishop)
British Anglican bishop
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Paul John Ferguson FRCO (born 13 July 1955)[1] is a British retired Anglican bishop. From 2014 to 2024, he was the Bishop of Whitby, a suffragan bishop in the Church of England's Diocese of York.[2]
_(cropped).jpg)
Paul Ferguson | |
|---|---|
| Bishop of Whitby | |
Ferguson in 2024 | |
| Church | Church of England |
| Diocese | Diocese of York |
| In office | 2014 to 2024 |
| Predecessor | Martin Warner |
| Other post | Archdeacon of Cleveland (2001–2014) |
| Orders | |
| Ordination | 1985 (deacon) 1986 (priest) |
| Consecration | 3 July 2014 by John Sentamu |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 13 July 1955 |
| Occupation | Organist and |
| Alma mater | |
Early life and education
Ferguson was born on 13 July 1955. He was educated at Birkenhead School, an independent school in Merseyside.[3] Having been awarded an organ scholarship, he studied music at New College, Oxford, graduating with a Bachelor of Arts (BA) degree in 1976:[3][4] as per tradition, his BA was promoted to a Master of Arts (MA Oxon) degree in 1980. He undertook teacher training at Westminster College, Oxford completing a Postgraduate Certificate in Education (PGCE).[3] He returned to his former school as a teacher and organ player.[4] He then returned to university, and studied theology at King's College, Cambridge while training for ordination at Westcott House, Cambridge, a Liberal Anglo-Catholic theological college.[3] He graduated with a further BA in 1984.[1]
Ordained ministry
Ferguson was made a deacon at Petertide 1985 (30 June), by Ronald Brown, Bishop of Birkenhead, at St Mary-without-the-Walls, Chester,[5] and ordained a priest the Petertide following (29 June 1986), by Michael Baughen, Bishop of Chester, at Chester Cathedral.[6] After a curacy at St Mary, Chester he was Curate, Chaplain, Sacrist and Precentor at Westminster Abbey from 1988 to 1995. After this he was Precentor and a Residentiary Canon at York Minster until his appointment as Archdeacon of Cleveland in 2001.[7]
Episcopal ministry
He was consecrated at York Minster on 3 July 2014 by John Sentamu, Archbishop of York.[8] In the vacancy in See between the retirement of Sentamu and the confirmation of Stephen Cottrell, Ferguson was acting diocesan bishop.[9] He retired in July 2024.[10]
Since his retirement, Ferguson has functioned as honorary assistant priest, both at Mass and Evensong at St Lawrence's Church, York, a traditional anglo-catholic and Prayer Book parish church[11][12], and also at Selby Abbey and surrounding villages.
Personal life
In 1982, Ferguson married Penelope Hewitt-Jones, cousin of the composer Thomas Hewitt Jones. Together they had one daughter and two sons. His wife predeceased him in 2022. In 2024 he married Bridget Gillespie.[13]