Paul Ferguson (bishop) explained

Paul John Ferguson FRCO (born 13 July 1955) 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.^[1]

Early life and education

Ferguson was born on 13 July 1955. He was educated at Birkenhead School, an independent school in Merseyside.^[2] Having been awarded an organ scholarship, he studied music at New College, Oxford, graduating with a Bachelor of Arts (BA) degree in 1976:^[3] 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). He returned to his former school as a teacher and organ player. 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. He graduated with a further BA in 1984.

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, and ordained a priest the Petertide following (29 June 1986), by Michael Baughen, Bishop of Chester, at Chester Cathedral. 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.^[4]

Episcopal ministry

He was consecrated at York Minster on 3 July 2014 by John Sentamu, Archbishop of York.^[5] In the vacancy in See between the retirement of Sentamu and the confirmation of Stephen Cottrell, Ferguson was acting diocesan bishop.^[6] He retired in July 2024.^[7]

Personal life

In 1982, Ferguson married Penelope. Together the had one daughter and two sons. His wife predeceased him in 2022.^[8]

Notes and References

1. WHITBY, Bishop Suffragan of’, Who's Who 2017, A & C Black, an imprint of Bloomsbury Publishing plc, 2017; online edn, Oxford University Press, 2016; online edn, Nov 2016 accessed 12 March 2017
2. Web site: Whitby, Bishop Suffragan of, (Rt Rev. Paul John Ferguson) (born 13 July 1955) . . Oxford University Press . 6 June 2023 . en . 1 December 2022.
3. Web site: The Rt Revd Paul Ferguson: Bishop of Whitby . Diocese of York . 6 June 2023.
4. Web site: Suffragan Bishop of Whitby: Paul John Ferguson. News. GOV.UK. 19 November 2014. 2 May 2014.
5. News: Consecrations of two new North Yorkshire bishops. 19 November 2014. BBC News. 3 July 2014.
6. Web site: A pastoral letter to the Diocese of York from the Bishop of Whitby.
7. Web site: Diocese of York . Two Bishops in the Diocese of York to retire in mid-2024 . 27 July 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230729192158/https://dioceseofyork.org.uk/news-events/news/two-bishops-in-the-diocese-of-york-to-retire-in-mid2024/ . 29 July 2023 . 29 July 2023 .
8. Web site: http://www.ukwhoswho.com/view/article/oupww/whoswho/U29807 Whitby, Bishop Suffragan of, (Rt Rev. Paul John Ferguson) (born 13 July 1955) ]. . Oxford University Press . 19 July 2024 . en . 1 December 2023.