Gavin Ashenden

Ashenden was born on 3 June 1954 in London, England, the son of Michael Roy Edward Ashenden and Carol Ashenden (née Simpson, now Salmon).{{cite web |title=Ashenden, Rt Rev. Dr Gavin Roy Pelham |url=https://www.ukwhoswho.com/view/10.1093/ww/9780199540884.001.0001/ww-9780199540884-e-250394 |website=Who's Who 2019 |publisher=Oxford University Press |date=1 December 2019 |access-date=20 December 2019 |isbn=978-0-19-954088-4 |doi=10.1093/ww/9780199540884.013.U250394}} He was educated at Rokeby Preparatory School and as a music scholar at The King's School, Canterbury. He graduated from the University of Bristol, with a degree in law. He trained for the Anglican priesthood at Oak Hill Theological College, where he read for a Bachelor of Arts degree in theology. Whilst at Oak Hill he was also sent as part of his training to the Greek Orthodox Patriarchal Stavropegic Monastery of St. John the Baptist{{cite web|url=http://www.thyateira.org.uk/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=373&Itemid=1|title=Archdiocese of Thyateira and Great Britain – Monastery of St. John the Baptist|work=thyateira.org.uk|accessdate=16 April 2017}} in Tolleshunt Knights, Essex,{{cite web | url=http://www.thyateira.org.uk/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=373&Itemid=1 | title=Home }} where he came under the influence of Archimandrite Sophrony (Sakharov).{{citation needed|date=April 2017}}

Ashenden engaged in postgraduate work at Heythrop College at the University of London with a Master of Theology degree on the psychology of religion. Whilst a chaplain and member of faculty at the University of Sussex, he completed a doctorate on the life and work of Charles Williams (1999). He published Charles Williams: Alchemy and Integration, a study of Williams' work in 2007, which was reviewed by the Archbishop Rowan Williams{{cite web|url=https://ashenden.org/2008/06/18/rowan-williams-in-the-tls-on-gavin-ashendens-work-alchemy-and-integration/|title=Rowan Williams in the TLS on Gavin Ashenden's work Charles Williams: Alchemy and Integration.|date=18 June 2008|work=ashenden.org|accessdate=16 April 2017}} in the Times Literary Supplement.{{cite book|title=Charles Williams: Alchemy and Integration|first=Gavin|last=Ashenden|date=1 November 2007|publisher=The Kent State University Press|isbn=978-0873387811}} In 2009 he contributed to Charles Williams and His Contemporaries,{{cite book|title=Charles Williams and his Contemporaries |url=https://www.cambridgescholars.com/resources/pdfs/978-1-4438-0565-0-sample.pdf}} and in 2012 Persona & Paradox: Issues of Identity for C.S. Lewis, his Friends and Associates {{cite web | url=https://www.cambridgescholars.com/product/978-1-4438-3966-2 | title=Persona and Paradox: Issues of Identity for C.S. Lewis, his Friends and Associates |publisher=Cambridge Scholars Publishing }}

Ashenden was ordained at Southwark Cathedral in 1980 and served as a parish priest for 10 years in the Diocese of Southwark, firstly at St James's Bermondsey{{cite web|url=http://www.godlovesbermondsey.co.uk/|title=St James Church, Bermondsey|work=godlovesbermondsey.co.uk|accessdate=16 April 2017}} and then as vicar of Hamsey Green in Sanderstead.{{cite web|url=http://southwark.anglican.org/find-a-church/croydon-south/sanderstead-team-ministry|title=Sanderstead Team Ministry – The Diocese of Southwark|work=anglican.org|accessdate=16 April 2017}}

Between 1989 and 2012 he held the post of university chaplain and senior lecturer in the Department of English at the University of Sussex where he lectured in literature and the psychology of religion. He was appointed a senior officer of the university in 1994. He convened and taught the MA programme "Monotheism and Mysticism in Critical Theology". From 1995 to 2003 he also lectured in systematic theology at the University of Brighton. From 1991-2010 he was also a part time chaplain at Roedean.

He was appointed firstly as a canon of Chichester Cathedral in 2003, and subsequently to a further theological canonry (Bursalis Prebendary) in 2006. He was examining chaplain and Diocesan Adviser on New Age Religions to the Bishop of Chichester.

In 1998 he was a Church of England delegate to the 8th Council of the World Council of Churches held in Harare, Zimbabwe. He was a member of the General Synod of the Church of England for from 1995 to 2012. He has lectured in the United States, including, in 2003, as a visiting theologian for St. Mark Lutheran Church in Salem, Oregon.{{cite web|url=http://stmarksalem.org/ministries/faith-dialogues/|title=Faith Dialogues at Saint Mark – Saint Mark Lutheran Church|work=stmarksalem.org|accessdate=16 April 2017}}

In 2012 he took early retirement from his university post and from 2012 to 2016 was 'house for duty' incumbent as vicar of St Martin de Gouray in Gorey, Jersey.{{cite web|url=http://www.gouraychurch.com/|title=Home|work=gouraychurch.com|accessdate=16 April 2017}}

He was vice-chairman of the Keston Institute during the 1980s,{{cite web|url=http://www.keston.org.uk/|title=Keston Institute : Resources for the Studies of Communist Countries and Religious Affairs|work=keston.org.uk|accessdate=16 April 2017}} and a director of Aid to Russian Christians,{{cite web|url=http://www.friends-partners.org/partners/ccsi/usnisorg/religion/arc-card.htm|title=Aid to Russian Christians|first=Center for Civil Society|last=International|work=friends-partners.org|accessdate=16 April 2017|archive-date=18 February 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170218234315/http://www.friends-partners.org/partners/ccsi/usnisorg/religion/arc-card.htm|url-status=dead}} in which role he engaged in smuggling Bibles and medicine to the "Underground Church" in the Soviet Union during that decade.

He was a member of the Society of the Holy Cross, and the Little Brothers of Jesus.{{cite web|last1=Ashenden|first1=Gavin|title=About|url=https://ashenden.org/about/|website=ashenden.org| date=December 2016 |accessdate=5 February 2017}}

In 2016, Ashenden was appointed to the board of reference for the Global Anglican Future Conference.{{cite web|url=http://anglicanmainstream.org/gafcon-uk-panel-of-reference-named/|title=GAFCON UK Panel of Reference named – Anglican Mainstream|work=anglicanmainstream.org| date=21 November 2016 |accessdate=16 April 2017}}{{cite web|url=http://www.gafconuk.org/about|title=About GAFCON UK – GAFCON UK|work=gafconuk.org|accessdate=16 April 2017}} He also joined Anglican TV Ministries as their UK correspondent.{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/user/kkallsen|title=AnglicanTV Ministries|via=YouTube|accessdate=16 April 2017}}

In early 2017, Ashenden resigned from his position as Chaplain to the Queen after writing in The Times criticising a service at St Mary's Cathedral, Glasgow, at which a Muslim student has been invited to read (in Arabic) a passage from the Koran that explicitly declared that Jesus is not the Son of God,{{cite web |last=Farley |first=Harry |date=11 January 2017 |title=Controversy Over Cathedral Koran Reading Deepens With Denial That Jesus Is Son of God |url=https://www.christiantoday.com/article/controversy-over-cathedral-koran-reading-deepens-with-denial-that-jesus-is-son-of-god/103780.htm |access-date= |website=Christian Today |publisher=}}{{cite web |last=Turner |first=Camilla |date=22 January 2017 |title=Queen's chaplain resigns over cathedral Koran reading row saying he has a 'duty' to defend Christianity |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2017/01/22/queens-chaplain-resigns-cathedral-koran-reading-row-saying-has/ |access-date= |work=The Daily Telegraph}} and because of his views on Islam and orthodox Christianity.{{cite web|url=https://ashenden.org/2017/01/27/an-interview-with-fox-news-usa/|title=An interview with Fox News – USA.|date=27 January 2017|work=ashenden.org|accessdate=16 April 2017}} Ashenden concluded that being a member of the Ecclesiastical Household was incompatible with being free to comment on issues of freedom of speech and the integrity of Christianity in the public square.

One of the consequences of his resignation was a variety of media engagements in several countries, including Fox News in the United States,{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bZnH896OVQA|title=Reverend resigns after Quran is read in Christian church|last=Fox News|date=26 January 2017|accessdate=16 April 2017|via=YouTube}} and The Bolt Report in Australia.{{cite web|url=https://twitter.com/theboltreport?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw|title=The Bolt Report (@theboltreport) |publisher=Twitter|accessdate=16 April 2017}}{{Primary source inline|date=February 2020}}

On 17 March 2017, Ashenden lodged a deed in the High Court of London under the Clerical Disabilities Act 1870 (33 & 34 Vict. c. 91), to relinquish his orders within the Church of England.{{cite web|url=http://archbishopcranmer.com/gavin-ashenden-leaves-church-england-ordinariate-circles-like-vulture/|title=As Gavin Ashenden leaves the Church of England, the Ordinariate circles like a vulture|date=18 March 2017|work=archbishopcranmer.com|accessdate=16 April 2017|archive-date=19 April 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170419221152/http://archbishopcranmer.com/gavin-ashenden-leaves-church-england-ordinariate-circles-like-vulture/|url-status=dead}}

In September 2017 Archbishop Theodore Casimes of the Christian Episcopal Church announced that Ashenden had been consecrated as a missionary bishop for the United Kingdom and Europe.{{cite web| url=http://www.virtueonline.org/former-queens-chaplain-consecrated-missionary-bishop-anglicans-uk-and-europe |title=Former Queen's Chaplain Consecrated Missionary Bishop to Anglicans in UK and Europe |publisher=Virtue Online |accessdate=29 September 2017}} The consecration had actually taken place in 2013,{{Cite web |last=Gledhill |first=Ruth |date=2017-10-05 |title=Gavin Ashenden was in fact consecrated a bishop four years ago – while still a chaplain to the Queen |url=https://www.christiantoday.com/article/gavin-ashenden-was-consecrated-a-bishop-four-years-ago-while-still-a-chaplain-to-the-queen/115342.htm |access-date=2025-02-19 |website=www.christiantoday.com |language=en}}{{Cite web |title=UK news in brief |url=https://www.churchtimes.co.uk/articles/2017/6-october/news/uk/uk-news-in-brief |access-date=2025-02-19 |website=www.churchtimes.co.uk}} when Ashenden was still a parish priest in the Church of England and a chaplain to the Queen.

Ashenden resigned from the Christian Episcopal Church in December 2019 on being received into the Roman Catholic Church.

On 22 December 2019, Ashenden was received into the Catholic Church by the Bishop of Shrewsbury, Mark Davies, at Shrewsbury Cathedral. Bishop Davies commented that it was "very humbling to be able to receive a bishop of the Anglican tradition into full communion in the year of the canonization of Saint John Henry Newman."{{Cite web |url=https://www.churchmilitant.com/news/article/anglican-bishop-and-queens-chaplain-converts-to-catholicism |title=Anglican Bishop and Queen's Chaplain Converts to Catholicism |access-date=16 December 2019 |archive-date=16 December 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191216222529/https://www.churchmilitant.com/news/article/anglican-bishop-and-queens-chaplain-converts-to-catholicism |url-status=dead }}

In 2023, Ashenden criticized the Declaration Fiducia Supplicans of the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith, which allows Catholic priests to impart pastoral blessings onto individuals in irregular couples (same-sex, remarried, and unmarried couples) under certain conditions.{{Cite news |last=Ashenden |first=Gavin |date=21 December 2023 |title=Fiducia Supplicans: an exercise in smoke and mirrors, where spin becomes substance and appearance reality |url=https://catholicherald.co.uk/fiducia-supplicans-an-exercise-in-smoke-and-mirrors-where-spin-becomes-substance-and-appearance-reality/ |work=Catholic Herald}}

Between 2008 and 2012 Ashenden presented the Faith and Ethics programme for BBC Sussex and BBC Surrey.{{cite web |url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p002n9f2 |title=BBC Sussex - Gavin Ashenden |accessdate=18 February 2017 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20121203012423/http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p002n9f2 |archivedate=3 December 2012 }} From 2009 to 2012, he also presented the BBC podcast Faith in England.{{cite web|url=https://www.facebook.com/bbcsheffield/posts/195670323822714|title=BBC Radio Sheffield|work=facebook.com|accessdate=16 April 2017}}{{Primary source inline|date=February 2020}}{{Cite web | url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p00l3cy0 | title=BBC Radio Bristol - Faith in England, 02/11/2011 }}

Between 2013 and 2022 he wrote a weekly column in the Jersey Evening Post, where his defence of orthodox Christianity and its critique of modern culture caused both strong support and opposition.{{cite web|url=http://jerseyeveningpost.com/news/2016/09/19/freedom-of-expression-series/|title=Freedom of Expression Series " Jersey Evening Post|work=jerseyeveningpost.com|date=19 September 2016 |accessdate=16 April 2017}}

While a continuing Anglican bishop he was a contributor to both Anglican Ink{{cite web|url=http://www.anglican.ink/article/ai-author-biographies-gavin-ashenden | title=Anglican Ink Author Biographies – Gavin Ashenden | work=Anglican Ink | date=5 February 2016 | accessdate=22 May 2017 }} and Anglican TV,{{cite web|url=http://anglican.tv/ |title=Anglican TV | accessdate=22 May 2017 }} before creating a new internet programme 'Catholic Unscripted'.{{Cite web | url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3ieRtgJbVTQ&feature=emb_logo | title=Gavin Ashenden & Rod Dreher in conversation."Culture, Crisis & the Catacombs.'Catholic Unscripted#4 | website=YouTube | date=5 May 2020 }}

Ashenden has contributed Op Ed pieces in both The Times and The Daily Telegraph,{{Cite news | url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2018/06/06/terrible-error-judgment-justin-welby-publicly-embrace-eu-utopianism/ | title=It was a terrible error of judgment for Justin Welby to publicly embrace EU utopianism | newspaper=The Telegraph | date=6 June 2018 | last1=Ashenden | first1=Gavin }} and written for The Sunday Times.{{cite news | url=https://www.thetimes.com/uk/religion/article/playing-nice-to-all-religions-may-be-wishful-thinking-2k7g6zmn0 | title=Playing nice to all religions may be wishful thinking | last1=Ashenden | first1=Gavin }} He has featured in The Spectator{{'}}s religious affairs podcast 'Holy Smoke;' {{cite web | url=https://www.spectator.co.uk/podcasts/holy-smoke | title=Coffee House Shots | the Spectator | date=13 November 2023 }} and has written also for Christian Today. In 2021 he became a regular columnist for the Catholic Herald, appointed as an Associate Editor in 2022. He maintains a website for the publication of homilies, articles and commentary at ashenden.org.{{Cite web|url=https://ashenden.org/|title=Gavin Ashenden|website=Gavin Ashenden}}

He was interviewed by Rod Liddle for The Sunday Times over the controversy surrounding Bishop Michael Curry's sermon following the Royal Wedding in 2018.{{Cite web | url=https://videopress.com/v/GnyZq1Ga | title=The Sunday Times – Liddle & Ashenden.- }} BBC 2's Newsnight took up the issue when the Archbishop of Canterbury raised questions about God and gender.Archived at [https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211209/RDQX8zAVxQo Ghostarchive]{{cbignore}} and the [https://web.archive.org/web/20200229165525/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RDQX8zAVxQo Wayback Machine]{{cbignore}}: {{cite AV media| url = https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RDQX8zAVxQo| title = Does God have a gender? DISCUSSION - BBC Newsnight | website=YouTube}}{{cbignore}} John Anderson, formerly deputy prime minister of Australia, conducted an interview on the dangers to freedom of speech in his series "conversations",Archived at [https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211209/lU6dArMCB5o Ghostarchive]{{cbignore}} and the [https://web.archive.org/web/20200125061643/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lU6dArMCB5o Wayback Machine]{{cbignore}}: {{cite AV media| url = https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lU6dArMCB5o| title = Gavin Ashenden {{!}} The Nature and Importance of Freedom | website=YouTube}}{{cbignore}} and he has become a regular guest on GB News.{{Cite web | url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lpj97N8g4wE | title=Dr Gavin Ashenden joins Nigel Farage for Talking Pints | website=YouTube | date=27 January 2022 }}

Ashenden has written on Russian Orthodox spirituality in A Guidebook to the Spiritual Life (ed. Peter Toon).{{cite book|url=http://www.worldcat.org/title/guidebook-to-the-spiritual-life/oclc/18322927?page=citation|title= A Guidebook to the spiritual life|via=worldcat.org|oclc= 18322927|accessdate=16 April 2017}} He also wrote The Oxford Inklings{{Cite web |url=http://www.cambridgescholars.com/download/sample/58168 |title=Archived copy |access-date=18 February 2017 |archive-date=19 February 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170219101959/http://www.cambridgescholars.com/download/sample/58168 |url-status=dead }}

and about C. S. Lewis in Persona and Paradox.{{Cite web |url=http://www.cambridgescholars.com/download/sample/59941 |title=Archived copy |access-date=18 February 2017 |archive-date=19 February 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170219093039/http://www.cambridgescholars.com/download/sample/59941 |url-status=dead }}

• The Reverend Gavin Ashenden (1980–1999)
• The Reverend Dr Gavin Ashenden (1999–2003)
• The Reverend Canon Dr Gavin Ashenden (1997–1999)
• The Right Reverend Dr Gavin Ashenden (2017–2019)
• Dr Gavin Ashenden (2019–present)

{{reflist}}

• {{official website|https://ashenden.org}}
• [https://www.youtube.com/@DrGAshenden YouTube channel]

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Category:Living people

Category:1954 births

Category:Honorary chaplains to the King

Category:People educated at The King's School, Canterbury

Category:Alumni of the University of Bristol

Category:Alumni of the University of London

Category:Alumni of the University of Sussex

Category:Academics of the University of Sussex

Category:Alumni of Oak Hill College

Category:20th-century English Anglican priests

Category:English Roman Catholics

Category:Anglican bishop converts to Roman Catholicism