Godfrey Ashby

Who is Godfrey Ashby?

Godfrey William Ernest Candler Ashby was the 8th Bishop of St John's in what is now known as Mthatha.

Ashby was educated at The King's School, Chester and King's College London. Ordained Deacon in 1955 and Priest a year later, his first post was as a Curate at St Peter, St Helier, Morden. After a spell as Priest in charge of St Mark Mission he emigrated to South Africa. Here he rose steadily in the Church hierarchy, being successively: Subwarden of St Paul’s College Grahamstown; Rector of Alice, Eastern Cape; a senior lecturer in Hebrew at Rhodes University; Dean of St. Michael and St. George Cathedral and Archdeacon of the Anglican Diocese of Grahamstown; a Diocesan Bishop; and, finally, Professor of Divinity at the University of the Witwatersrand. Assistant bishop diocese of Leicester 1988-95. In retirement he served the church as an Assistant Bishop within the Diocese of George in South Africa, and continues to serve as Honorary Assistant bishop, diocese of Portsmouth since 2008.

Bishop Ashby is married to Sally Ashby, and has six children: Garmon Ashby, John-Mark Ashby, Mary Jackson, Philip Ashby, Ruth Ashby, and Charles Theodoret Ashby.