Paul Ferguson (bishop)

Paul John Ferguson FRCO (born 13 July 1955) is a Church of England bishop. Since 2014, he has been the Bishop of Whitby.

Early life and education
Ferguson was born on 13 July 1955. He was educated at Birkenhead School, an independent school in Merseyside. Having been awarded an organ scholarship, he studied music at New College, Oxford, graduating with a Bachelor of Arts (BA) degree in 1976: as per tradition, his BA was promoted to a Master of Arts (MA Oxon) degree in 1980. He undertook teacher training at Westminster College, Oxford completing a Postgraduate Certificate in Education (PGCE). He returned to his former school as a teacher and organ player. He then returned to university, and studied theology at King's College, Cambridge while training for ordination at Westcott House, Cambridge, a Liberal Anglo-Catholic theological college. He graduated with a further BA in 1984.

Ordained ministry
Ferguson was made a deacon at Petertide 1985 (30 June), by Ronald Brown, Bishop of Birkenhead, at St Mary-without-the-Walls, Chester, and ordained a priest the Petertide following (29 June 1986), by Michael Baughen, Bishop of Chester, at Chester Cathedral. After a curacy at St Mary, Chester he was Curate, Chaplain, Sacrist and Precentor at Westminster Abbey from 1988 to 1995. After this he was Precentor and a Residentiary Canon at York Minster until his appointment as Archdeacon of Cleveland in 2001.

Episcopal ministry
He was consecrated at York Minster on 3 July 2014 by John Sentamu, Archbishop of York. In the vacancy in See between the retirement of Sentamu and the confirmation of Stephen Cottrell, Ferguson was acting diocesan bishop. His retirement has been announced for July 2024.

Personal life
In 1982, Ferguson married Penelope. Together the had one daughter and two sons. His wife predeceased him in 2022.