Cyril Ashton
{{short description|British Anglican bishop|bot=PearBOT 5}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}}
{{Infobox Christian leader
| honorific-prefix = The Right Reverend
| name = Cyril Ashton
| honorific-suffix =
| title = Bishop of Doncaster
| church = Church of England
| diocese = Diocese of Sheffield
| term = 2000–2011
| predecessor = Michael Gear
| successor = Peter Burrows
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1942|4|6|df=y}}
| birth_place = Coxhoe, County Durham, United Kingdom
| nationality = British
| religion = Anglican
| children = 4 children: Jonathan, Elizabeth, Simon & Timothy
| alma_mater = Oak Hill Theological College / Lancaster University
}}
Cyril Guy Ashton (born 6 April 1942) is a British Anglican bishop. From 2000 to 2011, he was the Bishop of Doncaster, a suffragan bishop in the Diocese of Sheffield.[http://www.anglicancommunion.org/tour/cathedral.cfm?IDNUMBER=8650 Anglican Communion]
Career
Ashton trained for the Anglican ministry at Oak Hill Theological College, London, and began a curacy at St Thomas, Blackpool in 1967. He was then successively: Vocations Secretary to the Church Pastoral Aid Society (1970–1974);Debrett's People of Today London, Debrett's, 2008 {{ISBN|978-1-870520-95-9}} Vicar of St Thomas, Lancaster (1974–1991); and finally, before his elevation to the episcopate,[https://www.lancashiretelegraph.co.uk/archive/2000/2/1/742899.html/ Report of Inauguration] was Director of Training for the Diocese of Blackburn (1991–2000).
During his 17 years’ incumbency at St Thomas Lancaster, Ashton developed a distinctive ministry in the charismatic renewal movement and encouraged the open use of charismatic gifts in the main Sunday services. In addition to the normal Anglican offices of the Parochial Church Council, Ashton also introduced an additional tier of church leaders who were styled as ‘elders’.
In 1986, he gained a Master of Arts (MA) degree at Lancaster University.[http://www.burkes-peerage.net/familyhomepage.aspx?FID=0&FN=ASHTONCYRIL Burke’s Peerage] He was made an honorary canon of Blackburn Cathedral in 1991. He was also the course director of the Post-Graduate Diploma at Cliff College, Derbyshire from 1995.
Ashton retired as Bishop of Doncaster on 13 July 2011,[http://www.sheffield.anglican.org/index.php/home/latest-news/29-latest-news/3461-bishop-of-doncaster-announces-retirement Bishop of Doncaster announces retirement]{{dead link|date=August 2017 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} with a farewell service at St George's Minster, Doncaster.{{Cite web |url=http://www.doncasterfreepress.co.uk/news/doncaster-news/town_s_bishop_announces_he_is_leaving_post_1_3001645 |title=Doncaster Free Press — Town's bishop announces... |access-date=11 February 2011 |archive-date=18 March 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120318222740/http://www.doncasterfreepress.co.uk/news/doncaster-news/town_s_bishop_announces_he_is_leaving_post_1_3001645 |url-status=dead }}
As of September 2023 Ashton was chair of the Wigan Deanery Trust.{{Cite web |date=22 September 2023 |title=Wigan Deanery Trust - Trustee Profiles - Cyril Ashton - Chair |url=https://www.wigandeanerytrust.org/about-the-trust/the-trustees/cyril-ashton--chair.php |access-date=4 January 2025 |website=Wigan Deanery Trust}}
Personal life
Ashton lists his recreations as motorcycling, vintage cars, swimming, cycling, music, wine, and walking,{{cite web| url = http://www.debretts.com/people/biographies/browse/d/20741/Cyril%20Guy%20Ashton+DONCASTER.aspx| url-status = dead| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20120913161922/http://www.debretts.com/people/biographies/browse/d/20741/Cyril%20Guy%20Ashton+DONCASTER.aspx| archive-date = 2012-09-13| title = The Rt Rev Cyril Ashton Authorised Biography – Debrett's People of Today, The Rt Rev Cyril Ashton Profile}} Ashton is married to Muriel and they have four adult children.Who's Who'' 2008: London, A & C Black, 2008 {{ISBN|978-0-7136-8555-8}} Ashton and Muriel planned to retire in the Lancaster area.
Books by Ashton
- Baptism: The Promise of God, Anglican Renewal Ministries, 1986
- Servant Spirit, Serving Church, Marshall Pickering, 1988
- Church on the Threshold: Renewing the Local Church, Darton, Longman & Todd Ltd, 1991 (co-authored with Bishop Jack Nicholls)
- Threshold God: Discovering Christ in the Margins of Life, Darton, Longman & Todd Ltd, 1992
- A Faith Worth Sharing?: A Church Worth Joining?, Darton, Longman & Todd Ltd, 1995
Styles
- The Reverend Cyril Ashton (1967–1991)
- The Reverend Canon Cyril Ashton (1991–2000)
- The Right Reverend Cyril Ashton (2000–present)
References
External links
- [http://www.sheffield-diocese.org.uk/BishopsCyril.htm Bishop's section of diocesan website] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081024195015/http://www.sheffield-diocese.org.uk/BishopsCyril.htm |date=24 October 2008 }}
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{{s-bef|before=Michael Gear}}
{{s-ttl|title=Bishop of Doncaster|years=2000–2011}}
{{s-aft|after=Peter Burrows}}
{{s-end}}
{{Bishops of Doncaster}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Ashton, Cyril Guy}}
Category:Alumni of Lancaster University
Category:Alumni of Oak Hill College