Alan Wolstencroft Explained

Type:Priest
Honorific Prefix:The Venerable
Alan Wolstencroft
Archdeacon of Manchester
Church:Church of England
Diocese:Diocese of Manchester
Term:1998 until 2004
Predecessor:Reginald Brian Harris
Successor:Andrew Edgar Ballard
Ordination:1969 (deacon)
1970 (priest)
Birth Name:Alan Wolstencroft
Birth Date:16 July 1937
Death Place:Bolton, Greater Manchester
Tomb:-->
Nationality:British
Religion:Anglicanism
Spouse:Christine Mary Hall
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Alma Mater:Ripon College Cuddesdon

The Ven Alan Wolstencroft[1] (16 July 1937 - 15 September 2020) was an Anglican priest who served as Archdeacon of Manchester from 1998 to 2004.

Career

He studied for the priesthood at Ripon College Cuddesdon.[2] After curacies in Halliwell and Stand he held incumbencies in Wythenshawe, Brooklands, and Bolton.[3] He was a Canon Residentiary at Manchester Cathedral from 1998 until 2004, concurrently with his service as Archdeacon.

Retirement

In retirement (after 2004) Wolstencroft remained active in church affairs both locally and nationally, serving for several years as Synodal Secretary of the Convocation of York, and for sixteen years (2004 - 2020) as the Retired Clergy and Widows Officer of the Diocese of Manchester.

He suffered ill health towards the end of his life, and died on 15 September 2020 in Marley Court Care Home in Bolton.[4]

Private life

Wolstencroft was an English Freemason, having been initiated in the Worsley Lodge No 1814 in Lancashire. He served for several years as Provincial Grand Chaplain for West Lancashire, relinquishing the post in 2002 when he was promoted to the national appointment of Assistant Grand Chaplain in the United Grand Lodge of England.[5]

He was married, in 1968, to Christine Mary Wolstencroft (née Hall). They had two children.

Notes and References

  1. http://www.manchester.anglican.org/upload/userfiles/file/pdf/Synod%20&%20Committees/RCWWC(1).pdf Manchester Anglican
  2. 'WOLSTENCROFT, Ven. Alan', Who's Who 2013, A & C Black, an imprint of Bloomsbury Publishing plc, 2013; online edn, Oxford University Press, Dec 2012 ; online edn, Nov 2012 accessed 6 July 2013
  3. [Crockford's clerical directory|Crockfords]
  4. Web site: The Ven Alan Wolstencroft RIP . Diocese of Manchester . 17 September 2020 .
  5. Book: United Grand Lodge of England: Masonic Year Book (edition 2020-2021) . 2020-2021. Grand Officers Alphabetically Arranged . London. UGLE. 2020. 303.