Mark James Rylands (born 11 July 1961) is a British Anglican bishop. From 2009 until 2018, he was the area Bishop of Shrewsbury in the Church of England.
Mark Rylands | |
|---|---|
| Bishop of Shrewsbury | |
| Church | Church of England |
| Diocese | Lichfield |
| In office | 2009–2018 |
| Predecessor | Alan Smith |
| Successor | Sarah Bullock |
| Orders | |
| Ordination | 1987 (deacon); 1988 (priest) by Michael Baughen |
| Consecration | 28 October 2009 by Rowan Williams |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 11 July 1961 |
| Nationality | British |
| Denomination | Anglican |
| Residence | Athlone House, Shrewsbury[1][dubious – discuss] |
| Parents |
|
| Spouse | Mandy (m. 1986) |
| Alma mater | Hild Bede, Durham |
Early life
Rylands was born on 11 July 1961, the son of Michael Rylands and Denise née Bates.[2] Michael was sometime Vicar of Wilton, Wiltshire, Rector of Malpas, Cheshire and honorary canon of Chester[3][a][3] and Denise a scion of the Bates baronets (of Bellefield): her grandfather was Edward, 2nd Baronet.[6] He was educated at Shrewsbury School and the College of St Hild and St Bede, Durham University, the latter whence he graduated with a Bachelor of Arts (BA) degree in 1983. He trained for the ministry at Trinity College, Bristol, gaining a second BA in 1987;[7] and later studied for a Master of Arts degree from Sheffield University, which he was awarded in 2006.
Ordained ministry
He was made a deacon at Petertide 1987 (27 June)[8] and ordained a priest the Petertide following (3 July 1988) — both times by Michael Baughen, Bishop of Chester, at Chester Cathedral;[9] he began his ministerial career with a title post as assistant curate at St George's Heaviley, Stockport[10] (1987–1991); he was then Vicar of Acton and Worleston, Church Minshull and Wettenhall, Cheshire (1991–1997). He moved to Somerset in 1997 to serve as Team Rector for the Langport Team Ministry[2] (Aller, Drayton, High Ham with Low Ham, Huish Episcopi, Long Sutton, Muchelney, and Pitney); then from 2002[7] until his appointment to the episcopate[11] he was Diocesan Missioner for the Diocese of Exeter and a Canon Residentiary at Exeter Cathedral.[12]
Episcopate
Rylands was appointed Bishop of Shrewsbury, one of three area bishops (suffragan bishops with delegated responsibility for episcopal areas) in the Diocese of Lichfield: he was consecrated a bishop at Westminster Abbey on 28 October 2009 by Rowan Williams, Archbishop of Canterbury[13] and installed at Lichfield Cathedral on 2 November 2009.[14][15][16]
In March 2018 it was announced that Rylands would resign as Bishop of Shrewsbury and return to parish ministry.[17] Since July 2018,[18] he has led the Ashburton and Moorland Team Ministry in the Diocese of Exeter, first as priest-in-charge and then as rector since 2021.[19] He has additionally been an honorary assistant bishop in the Diocese of Exeter since 2018.[18]
Personal life
Mark married in 1986 and they have two adult children;[2] his wife is also a priest.[b]
Styles
- The Reverend Mark Rylands (1988–2002)
- The Reverend Canon Mark Rylands (2002–2009)
- The Right Reverend Mark Rylands (2009–present)