{{Short description|Anglican priest}} {{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}} {{Infobox Christian leader | type = priest | honorific-prefix = The Very Reverend | name = Mark Bonney | honorific-suffix = {{post-nominals|country=GBR|size=100%|DL}} | image = Thanksgiving service at Ely Cathedral 251127-F-BN500-1011 (cropped).jpg | caption = Bonney at Ely Cathedral in 2025 | title = Dean of Ely | church = Church of England | diocese = Diocese of Ely | term = 2012–present | predecessor = | successor = | other_post = | previous_post = Canon Treasurer of Salisbury Cathedral (2004–2012) <!---------- Orders ----------> | ordination = 1985 (deacon)<br />1986 (priest) | consecration = <!---------- Personal details ----------> | birth_name = Mark Philip John Bonney | birth_date = {{Birth year and age|1957}} | birth_place = <!-- City, administrative region, sovereign state (per Template:Infobox person) --> | death_date = <!-- {{Death date and age|YYYY|MM|DD|YYYY|MM|DD}} (death date then birth date) --> | death_place = <!-- as birth_place --> | buried = | nationality = | religion = Anglicanism | residence = | parents = | spouse = Katherine<ref>https://www.elycathedral.org/people/the-very-revd-mark-bonney</ref> | children = Two daughters | occupation = | profession = | alma_mater = St Catharine's College, Cambridge<br />St Stephen's House, Oxford }} '''Mark Philip John Bonney''' {{post-nominals|country=GBR|size=100%|DL}} (born 2 March 1957)<ref>{{Who's Who | title=Bonney, Mark Philip John | id = U256456 | volume = 2019 | edition = 1 December 2018 online | access-date = 27 January 2019 }}</ref> is an Anglican priest. Since 2012, he has served as the dean of Ely.
==Early life== He was born in 1957.<ref name="crockford">{{Crockford| surname = Bonney | forenames = Mark Philip John | id = 25042 | accessed = 30 November 2015}}</ref> He was educated at a school in at Northgate Grammar School in Ipswich <ref name="Diocese of Ely - Canon Mark Bonney to be Dean of Ely">{{cite web|title=Canon Mark Bonney to be Dean of Ely|url=http://www.ely.anglican.org/news_events/news_items/newdean.html|website=News & Events|publisher=Diocese of Ely|accessdate=12 May 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150518085007/http://www.ely.anglican.org/news_events/news_items/newdean.html|archive-date=18 May 2015|url-status=dead}}</ref> Having been awarded a scholarship as a choral exhibitioner,<ref name="bio - Association of English Cathedrals">{{cite web|title=Mark Bonney|url=http://www.englishcathedrals.co.uk/about-us/liturgy-music-groups/mark-bonney/|website=About Us|publisher=Association of English Cathedrals|accessdate=12 May 2015|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20150529111500/http://www.englishcathedrals.co.uk/about-us/liturgy-music-groups/mark-bonney/|archivedate=29 May 2015}}</ref> he studied music at St Catharine's College, Cambridge.<ref name="GOV - Dean of Ely">{{cite web|title=Dean of Ely|url=https://www.gov.uk/government/news/dean-of-ely|website=Press release|publisher=Prime Minister's Office|accessdate=12 May 2015|date=11 April 2012}}</ref> He graduated from the University of Cambridge with a Bachelor of Arts (BA) degree in 1978; his BA was promoted to a Master of Arts (MA Cantab) degree in 1982.<ref name="crockford" /> He gained a Blue in both Tennis and Golf while studying for this degree.<ref name="Diocese of Ely - Canon Mark Bonney to be Dean of Ely" />
Having completed his music degree, he taught the subject for three years.<ref name="bio - Association of English Cathedrals" /> He left teaching to train for the priesthood and entered St Stephen's House, Oxford. Having studied theology, he graduated from the University of Oxford with a BA degree in 1984; this degree was promoted to an MA Oxon in 1989. He then undertook a further year of ministerial training at St Stephen's House.<ref name="crockford" />
==Ordained ministry== Bonney was ordained in the Church of England as a deacon in 1985 and as a priest in 1986.<ref name="crockford" /> From 1985 to 1988, he served his curacy at St Peter's Church, Stockton-on-Tees.<ref>{{cite web|title=Past Clergy|url=http://www.stpetersstockton.org.uk/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=52:history-past-clergy&Itemid=59|website=History|publisher=St Peter's Church, Stockton|accessdate=12 May 2015|date=13 September 2010}}</ref> He then joined St Alban's Abbey, where he was the chaplain from 1988 to 1990 and served as precentor from 1990 to 1992.<ref name="crockford" /> He was vicar of the Church of St Mary, Eaton Bray (the parish of Eaton Bray with Edlesborough) from 1992 to 1996.<ref name="GOV - Dean of Ely" /> Next, from 1996 to 2004, he was the rector of the Church of St Peter, Great Berkhamsted (parish of Great Berkhamsted).<ref name="crockford" /> In addition, from 2002 to 2004, he served as Rural Dean of Berkhamsted.<ref name="Diocese of Ely - Canon Mark Bonney to be Dean of Ely" />
In 2004, he left the Diocese of St Albans after 16 years of service, to join the staff of Salisbury Cathedral.<ref name="bio - Association of English Cathedrals" /> Between 2004 and 2012, he was a canon residentiary and treasurer of the cathedral.<ref name="GOV - Dean of Ely" /> In April 2012, it was announced that he would be the next dean of Ely. On 22 September, he was installed as dean at a service in Ely Cathedral.<ref name="Diocese of Ely - Canon Mark Bonney to be Dean of Ely" /> In October 2025, it was announced that he would be retiring as dean in July 2026.<ref>{{cite web |title=For Immediate Release: The Very Revd Mark Bonney DL to retire as Dean of Ely. |url=https://cdn.elycathedral.org/uploads/pdfs/Official-Press-release-MJB-2025.pdf |website=elycathedral.org |publisher=Ely Cathedral |format=pdf |date=14 October 2025}}</ref>
==Personal life== Bonney is married to Katherine<ref>https://www.elydiocese.org/the-very-revd-mark-bonney-dl-to-retire-as-dean-of-ely.php</ref>, a primary school teacher. Together they have two children, daughters Hannah and Eleanor.<ref name="GOV - Dean of Ely" /> In 2023, he was appointed a deputy lieutenant of Cambridgeshire.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.thegazette.co.uk/notice/4319256|date=2023-03-29|access-date=2023-03-30|title=Deputy Lieutenant Commissions|publisher=London Gazette}}</ref>
==References== {{Portal|Christianity}} {{Reflist|30em}} {{S-start}} {{S-rel|en}} {{S-bef|before= Michael Chandler}} {{S-ttl|title=Dean of Ely|years=2012–present}} {{S-inc}} {{S-end}} {{Deans of Ely}} {{Diocese of Ely}} {{authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Bonney, Mark Philip John}} Category:1957 births Category:Alumni of St Catharine's College, Cambridge Category:Deans of Ely Category:Living people Category:Anglo-Catholic clergy Category:Alumni of St Stephen's House Category:English Anglo-Catholics Category:20th-century English Anglican priests Category:21st-century English Anglican priests Category:Deputy lieutenants of Cambridgeshire