Michael Marshall (bishop)

Michael Eric Marshall (born 14 April 1936) was the eighth Bishop of Woolwich in the Church of England (Anglican).[1]

Marshall was educated at Lincoln Grammar School and Christ's College, Cambridge and was ordained in 1961. His first ministry position was as a curate at St Peter's Church, Spring Hill, Birmingham after which he was temporarily a tutor at Ely Theological College and then a chaplain at the University of London.[2] Appointed vicar of All Saints, Margaret Street in 1969, six years later he became the Bishop of Woolwich.[3] Resigning in 1984 he became the Director of the Anglican Institute in St Louis, Missouri in the United States before returning to England to be Director of Evangelism at Chichester Theological College. He then became, first, priest in charge and, later, rector of Holy Trinity Sloane Street (1997–2007). In 2003, he founded the Awareness Foundation with the Revd Nadim Nassar. He is President Emeritus of the Awareness Foundation and co-author of the Awareness Course. A prominent author, his many books include A Pattern of Faith (1966), Glory under Your Feet (1978), Pilgrimage and Promise (1981), Renewal in Worship (1982), The Gospel Connection and Flame in the Mind (2002). In retirement he serves as an assistant bishop in London.[4] His "SPA" (Scripture Prayer Action) ministry was developed with the Rev'd Soon Han Choi; SPA was initially based at the Church of the Annunciation, Marble Arch. Since leaving Holy Trinity Sloane Street Marshall has continued to work as President of the Awareness Foundation. Marshall's most recent book, The Transforming Power of Prayer: From Illusion to Reality, was the 2011 Mowbray Lent book.

He was made a deacon at Michaelmas 1960 (26 September) by Leonard Wilson, Bishop of Birmingham, at St Peter's Spring Hill (his title church),[5] ordained a priest the Michaelmas following (25 September 1961) by Michael Parker, Bishop of Aston, at St Agatha's Church, Sparkbrook,[6] and consecrated a bishop on 23 September 1975 by Donald Coggan, Archbishop of Canterbury, at Westminster Abbey.[7]

In 2011, it was announced that Marshall would be spending a year in New York City as the interim rector of the Episcopal Church of the Heavenly Rest on 5th Avenue. A new rector was installed there in October 2013.[8] He is now back in London as one of the honorary assistant clergy at Holy Trinity Sloane Street.