Rt Rev’d Mark Davies

Rt Rev’d Mark Davies

Trustee

I have been serving as the Bishop of Middleton since 2008. Growing up in Stoke, I was raised in a Christian household and first found my call to ministry at a young age.  

I can recall being in church at around ten or eleven years old, looking at the priest and the altar and knowing that this was who I was meant to be. It is this moment and this calling which has stayed with me throughout the years. 

I credit my vicar, headteacher and two teachers for opening doors for me to pursue my vocation and eventually be ordained; something which has shaped my passion and commitment to both parochial ministry, and education and schools ministry. 

I worked with parishes in Yorkshire before becoming Archdeacon of Rochdale in 2006. I then got a call to be Bishop of Middleton and was consecrated in York Minster in April 2008. One area of my ministry in Manchester is as chair of Greater Manchester Churches Together, and I am also the chair of the Diocesan Board of Education which covers 192 Church of England schools. 

I always stress the importance of young people, firmly believe that our children and young people are amongst my best teachers.  I am regularly found visiting schools to support and encourage staff, both teaching and non-teaching, and to thank them for the ways in which they open doors for children. 

From my years of working with other Christians, those of other faith communities, and those of no faith, I believe that when we stand together we are so much stronger.