Press release

Canon of Westminister Abbey: Anthony James Ball

The Queen has approved that the Reverend Canon Anthony James Ball be appointed as a Canon at Westminster Abbey.

The Queen has approved that the Reverend Canon Anthony James Ball, MA, Rector of Worth, Pound Hill and Maidenbower, in the diocese of Chichester, be appointed as a Canon at Westminster Abbey in succession to the Reverend Canon Andrew Tremlett, on his appointment as Dean of Durham on 17 July 2016.

Notes for editors

The Reverend Anthony Ball, (aged 47) was educated first at St Chad’s College, Durham and then at Heythrop College, London. He trained for the ministry on the North Thames Ministerial Training Course. He was a non-stipendary Minister at St George’s, Madrid in the diocese of Europe from 2000 to 2003 . He then moved to All Saints, Damascus as Chaplain from 2003 to 2005. He returned to England in 2005 to become the Archbishop of Canterbury’s Assistant Secretary for International, Ecumenical and Anglican Communion Affairs, subsequently becoming his Secretary for International Inter-Religious Relations and then, until 2011, the Archbishop’s Chaplain. At that time he was also a Public Preacher in the diocese of London (2007 to 2011) and Southwark (2010 to 2011). In 2007 he was made an Honorary Canon of the cathedrals of El Redentor, Madrid and All Saints, Cairo. Since 2011 he has been Rector at Worth (St Nicholas), Pound Hill and Maidenbower, in the diocese of Chichester as well as, since 2012, the Anglican Chaplain at Worth School.

Anthony is married to Celia and they have 1 son. His recreations include cycling, travel and engaging with other cultures – having served with HM Diplomatic Service (1990 to 2005) on overseas postings in Egypt, Kuwait, Spain and Syria. Since 2012 he has been a Trustee of Embrace the Middle East, an international development charity working through Christian partners in the Middle East, and was elected Chair of Trustees in March 2016.

Published 25 May 2016