Peter John Ball
Encyclopedia
Peter John Ball is the co-founder of the Community of the Glorious Ascension
and a former Bishop of Lewes
and of Gloucester
. Educated at Lancing College
and Queens' College, Cambridge
, he was ordained in 1956 and began his ministry with a curacy
at Rottingdean
, after which he was Prior
of the Community
he founded until his elevation to the episcopate. Whilst Prior of CGA, he combined his duties as a religious
with several other pastoral roles including three years as Vicar of Hoar Cross
in Staffordshire
.
of Lewes, and consistent with the principles of the religious order he earlier co-founded, Bishop Peter Ball initiated a "Caring and Sharing" scheme based on two simple ideas: first, that by making a small sacrifice, people can begin to turn away from materialistic values of the western world; and second, that they can share comparative wealth by sending the savings from this small sacrifice to projects in poor countries that help provide the basic needs of life. Caring and Sharing projects are generally done by a group—a village, parish, or circle of friends. Multiplied by the donations of many, even small savings can make a big difference.
to the See
of Gloucester
in 1992, he resigned from his position as Bishop of Gloucester in 1993, after admitting guilt and receiving a formal police caution
associated with the allegation of gross indecency
with a 17-year-old novice monk. No charges were brought. George Carey
, Archbishop of Canterbury, said at the time,"Bishop Peter is a highly gifted and original man who has inspired many people to deepen their faith in Jesus Christ. He has been much loved, both in his diocese and in the wider church, including the House of Bishops
. His resignation is therefore a cause of great sorrow."
reflects this in a blog recollection:
His twin brother, Michael, is also a bishop.
Community of the Glorious Ascension
The Community of the Glorious Ascension is an Anglican monastic community in the United Kingdom, co-founded in 1960 by twin brothers Michael Ball and Peter Ball. It was founded in Stratford Park in Stroud, Gloucestershire, and the priory is now at Lamacraft Farm, Start Point, near Kingsbridge in...
and a former Bishop of Lewes
Bishop of Lewes
The Bishop of Lewes is an episcopal title used by a suffragan bishop of the Church of England Diocese of Chichester, in the Province of Canterbury, England. The title takes its name after Lewes, the county town of East Sussex.-List of the Bishops of Lewes:...
and of Gloucester
Bishop of Gloucester
The Bishop of Gloucester is the Ordinary of the Church of England Diocese of Gloucester in the Province of Canterbury.The diocese covers the County of Gloucestershire and part of the County of Worcestershire and has its see in the City of Gloucester where the seat is located at the Cathedral Church...
. Educated at Lancing College
Lancing College
Lancing College is a co-educational English independent school in the British public school tradition, founded in 1848 by Nathaniel Woodard. Woodard's aim was to provide education "based on sound principle and sound knowledge, firmly grounded in the Christian faith." Lancing was the first of a...
and Queens' College, Cambridge
Queens' College, Cambridge
Queens' College is a constituent college of the University of Cambridge, England.The college was founded in 1448 by Margaret of Anjou , and refounded in 1465 by Elizabeth Woodville...
, he was ordained in 1956 and began his ministry with a curacy
Curate
A curate is a person who is invested with the care or cure of souls of a parish. In this sense "curate" correctly means a parish priest but in English-speaking countries a curate is an assistant to the parish priest...
at Rottingdean
Rottingdean
Rottingdean is a coastal village next to the town of Brighton and technically within the city of Brighton and Hove, in East Sussex, on the south coast of England...
, after which he was Prior
Prior
Prior is an ecclesiastical title, derived from the Latin adjective for 'earlier, first', with several notable uses.-Monastic superiors:A Prior is a monastic superior, usually lower in rank than an Abbot. In the Rule of St...
of the Community
Community of the Glorious Ascension
The Community of the Glorious Ascension is an Anglican monastic community in the United Kingdom, co-founded in 1960 by twin brothers Michael Ball and Peter Ball. It was founded in Stratford Park in Stroud, Gloucestershire, and the priory is now at Lamacraft Farm, Start Point, near Kingsbridge in...
he founded until his elevation to the episcopate. Whilst Prior of CGA, he combined his duties as a religious
Religious (Catholicism)
In the lexicon of certain branches of Christianity, especially the Roman Catholic, Anglican, and Orthodox branches, religious as a noun usually refers to a member of a religious order of monks, nuns, friars, clerics regular, or other individuals who take the three vows of poverty, chastity, and...
with several other pastoral roles including three years as Vicar of Hoar Cross
The Church of the Holy Angels, Hoar Cross
The Church of the Holy Angels is an Anglican church in Hoar Cross, East Staffordshire, England. It is a Grade I listed building.-History:It was built by the pious Anglo-Catholic, Emily Charlotte Meynell Ingram in memory of Hugo Francis Meynell Ingram. The architects were George Frederick Bodley...
in Staffordshire
Staffordshire
Staffordshire is a landlocked county in the West Midlands region of England. For Eurostat purposes, the county is a NUTS 3 region and is one of four counties or unitary districts that comprise the "Shropshire and Staffordshire" NUTS 2 region. Part of the National Forest lies within its borders...
.
Bishop of Lewes
While he was the suffragan BishopSuffragan bishop
A suffragan bishop is a bishop subordinate to a metropolitan bishop or diocesan bishop. He or she may be assigned to an area which does not have a cathedral of its own.-Anglican Communion:...
of Lewes, and consistent with the principles of the religious order he earlier co-founded, Bishop Peter Ball initiated a "Caring and Sharing" scheme based on two simple ideas: first, that by making a small sacrifice, people can begin to turn away from materialistic values of the western world; and second, that they can share comparative wealth by sending the savings from this small sacrifice to projects in poor countries that help provide the basic needs of life. Caring and Sharing projects are generally done by a group—a village, parish, or circle of friends. Multiplied by the donations of many, even small savings can make a big difference.
Bishop of Gloucester
After having been translatedTranslation (ecclesiastical)
Translation is the technical term when a Bishop is transferred from one diocese to another.This can be* From Suffragan Bishop status to Diocesan Bishop*From Coadjutor bishop to Diocesan Bishop*From one country's Episcopate to another...
to the See
Episcopal See
An episcopal see is, in the original sense, the official seat of a bishop. This seat, which is also referred to as the bishop's cathedra, is placed in the bishop's principal church, which is therefore called the bishop's cathedral...
of Gloucester
Gloucester
Gloucester is a city, district and county town of Gloucestershire in the South West region of England. Gloucester lies close to the Welsh border, and on the River Severn, approximately north-east of Bristol, and south-southwest of Birmingham....
in 1992, he resigned from his position as Bishop of Gloucester in 1993, after admitting guilt and receiving a formal police caution
Police caution
A police caution is a formal alternative to prosecution in minor cases, administered by the police and other law enforcement agencies in England and Wales, and in Hong Kong...
associated with the allegation of gross indecency
Gross indecency
Gross indecency is a UK and Canadian legal term of art which was used in the definition of the following criminal offences:*Gross indecency between men, contrary to section 11 of the Criminal Law Amendment Act 1885 and later contrary to section 13 of the Sexual Offences Act 1956.*Indecency with a...
with a 17-year-old novice monk. No charges were brought. George Carey
George Carey
George Leonard Carey, Baron Carey of Clifton PC, FKC is a former Archbishop of Canterbury, holding the office from 1991 to 2002. He was the first modern holder of the office not to have attended Oxford or Cambridge University...
, Archbishop of Canterbury, said at the time,"Bishop Peter is a highly gifted and original man who has inspired many people to deepen their faith in Jesus Christ. He has been much loved, both in his diocese and in the wider church, including the House of Bishops
House of Bishops
The House of Bishops is the third House in a General Synod of some Anglican churches and the second house in the General Convention of the Episcopal Church in the United States of America.-Composition of Houses of Bishops:...
. His resignation is therefore a cause of great sorrow."
After retirement
Following his retirement, Bishop Peter Ball continued pastoral service, and accepted invitations to give prayers, blessings, comments, and leadership at dedications, funerals, lectures, and Anglican worship services. He is noted for short, pithy sermons marked by humility and humor. The Vicar of WhalleyWhalley, Lancashire
Whalley is a large village in the Ribble Valley on the banks of the River Calder in Lancashire, England. It is overlooked by Whalley Nab, a large picturesque wooded hill over the river from the village....
reflects this in a blog recollection:
During the service there was lots of noise from younger children. Perhaps that put some people off, but does that matter from time to time? I’m sure God loves their inarticulate cries of delight, and sympathizes with their wails of frustration . . . During the service I told the story of Bishop Peter Ball of Gloucester. When a child began to cry during his sermon at a Parish visit, the mother hurried to take it out. “Stay where you are, my dear!” cried the Bishop. “I am delighted that someone is awake and listening.”
His twin brother, Michael, is also a bishop.