King Gives Nod to Reverend Dr. Matthew Porter as Next Bishop of Bolton
New Bishop of Bolton Announced
The King has officially approved The Reverend Dr. Matthew Porter, Vicar of St Michael le Belfrey in York, as the new Suffragan Bishop of Bolton. He will succeed The Right Reverend Mark Ashcroft following his retirement.
Impressive Academic and Clerical Career
Dr. Porter boasts degrees from Nottingham, Oxford, Sheffield, and even Asbury Theological Seminary in Kentucky, USA. He trained for ministry at Wycliffe Hall, Oxford, and was ordained priest in 1997 after serving at Christ Church, Dore, Sheffield.
- Appointed Vicar at St Chad’s, Woodseats in 2000
- Director of Curate Training for Sheffield Diocese in 2005
Long-standing Service in York and Beyond
Since 2009, Matthew has been an Associate Minister at St Michael le Belfrey, becoming Vicar in 2010. His wider contributions include serving on the boards of Cranmer Hall, Durham, and St Hild College, Leeds.
He’s also an author and was named Honorary Chaplain to the Queen—and then the King—in 2022, cementing his reputation in the Church of England.
