Matthew Porter (bishop)


Matthew Porter
Bishop of Bolton
ChurchChurch of England
ProvinceProvince of York
DioceseDiocese of Manchester
In office2023-
PredecessorMark Ashcroft
Other post(s)Vicar of St Michael le Belfrey, York (2010–2023)
Orders
Ordination1996 (deacon)
1997(priest)
by David Hope
Consecration22 June 2023
by Stephen Cottrell
Personal details
Born
Matthew James Porter

1969 (age 55–56)
NationalityBritish
DenominationAnglicanism
SpouseSam
ChildrenFive
Alma materUniversity of Nottingham
University of Sheffield
Asbury Theological Seminary
Wycliffe Hall, Oxford

Matthew James Porter (born 1969) is an Anglican bishop. Since 2023, he has been the Bishop of Bolton. [1]

Education

Porter was educated at Oundle School, University of Nottingham, University of Sheffield, Asbury Theological Seminary and Wycliffe Hall, Oxford.[2]


He has a Bachelors degree in History, and in Theology; a Masters Degree in Evangelism Studies and a Doctorate in Church Planting. [3]

Ordained ministry

Porter was ordained in the Church of England as a deacon in 1996 and as a priest in 1997. From 1996 to 2000, he served his curacy at Christ Church, Dore, in the Diocese of Sheffield. He was Vicar of Woodseats from 2000 to 2009; and of St Michael le Belfrey, York from 2010 to 2023. He was an Honorary Chaplain to the Monarch in 2022-23[4]

Episcopal ministry

On 5 March 2023, it was announced that Porter would become the next Bishop of Bolton, a suffragan bishop in the Diocese of Manchester.[5] He was consecrated a bishop on 22 June 2023 by Stephen Cottrell, Archbishop of York, during a service at York Minster.

As well as leading the See of Bolton covering much of the North and West of Greater Manchester, Porter is responsible for evangelism and church planting across the Diocese of Manchester. Since 2024, he has been Chair of The College of Archbishops' Evangelists, and is a Champion Bishop for Missionary Discipleship.

Personal life

Porter is married to Sam: they have five sons.


Emphases & Interests

In 2024, Bishop Matthew began #prayforpeacewednesday, an initiative encouraging people to take some time to pray for peace in war-torn parts of the world each Wednesday. Matthew Porter has blogged for many years in the fields of discipleship and leadership. He is an author, with recent books including:

A-Z of Discipleship (2017)

A-Z of Prayer (2019)

Overflow (2020)

The Art of Giving (2024)

The Art of Journalling (2024)

The Art of Fasting (2025)

[6]

References

  1. ^ "Suffragan Bishop of Bolton". 15 March 2023. Retrieved 9 February 2024.
  2. ^ "Matthew James Porter". Crockford's Clerical Directory (online ed.). Church House Publishing. Retrieved 9 February 2024.
  3. ^ https://manchester.anglican.org/bishop-of-bolton/bishopbolton.php
  4. ^ "Matthew Porter appointed Honorary Chaplain to The Queen". 16 February 2022. Retrieved 9 February 2024.
  5. ^ "Suffragan Bishop of Bolton: Matthew Porter". 9 February 2024. Retrieved 9 February 2024.
  6. ^ https://matthewporter.uk/