The Right Reverend Anthony Ball

Archdeacon and Canon Steward

Canon Ball is the Canon Steward and Archdeacon of Westminster, having also previously held the roles of Sub-Dean, Canon Rector, Rector of St Margaret’s and Almoner. Before coming to the Abbey he was Rector of Worth, Pound Hill and Maidenbower in West Sussex.

Canon Ball was born and lived for many years in Southern Africa. After studying at the University of Durham, he joined the Diplomatic Service. He had overseas postings in the Middle East and Spain during which time he was ordained as a priest. His last posting was in Damascus where, in addition to his work in the British Embassy and as the Anglican Chaplain, he was the Archbishop of Canterbury's representative to the Heads of the Orthodox Churches in Syria and Lebanon. From there he moved to join Archbishop Rowan Williams' staff at Lambeth Palace where he variously held responsibility for advising on Anglican Communion, Ecumenical, Inter Religious and International relations and served as the Archbishop's Chaplain.

Bishop of North Africa in the Province of Alexandria

In November 2021, Canon Anthony Ball was consecrated as an Assistant Bishop in the Diocese of Egypt, with responsibilities across the new Episcopal/Anglican Province of Alexandria and in January 2024 became the Bishop of North Africa in that Province.

The Province of Alexandria, named after the north Egyptian city which was home to one of the earliest branches of the Christian Church, serves ten countries – five of them in the Diocese of North Africa (Algeria, Tunisia, Libya, Chad and Mauritania) and five in the other three dioceses of the Province (Egypt, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Djibouti and Somalia).