Alistair Magowan


Alistair James Magowan is a British retired Anglican bishop. He served as the Bishop of Ludlow — the sole suffragan bishop of the Church of England Diocese of Hereford — from 2009 until his 2020 retirement.

Early life and education

Magown attended Leeds University, gaining his Bachelor of Science degree in Animal Physiology and Nutrition in 1977, and Trinity College, Bristol, to train for the ministry from 1978 and being awarded a Diploma of Higher Education.

Ordained ministry

Magowan was made a deacon at Petertide 1981 and ordained a priest the Petertide following — both times by David Lunn, Bishop of Sheffield. His first ministerial role was as assistant curate of St John the Baptist Owlerton, Sheffield, followed by a second curacy, at St Nicholas', Durham. He remained in Durham as Chaplain to St Aidan's College, then moved to Surrey, where he served as Vicar of St John's, Egham ; while at Egham he was also Rural Dean of Runnymede and Chair of the Guildford Diocesan Board of Education.
In 2000, he moved to become Archdeacon of Dorset until 2009; in that role he was also a canon and prebendary of Salisbury Cathedral and Chair of the Salisbury Diocesan Board of Education.

Episcopal ministry

In 2009, he was appointed to become Bishop of Ludlow, the sole suffragan bishop of the Diocese of Hereford. He was ordained and consecrated as a bishop on 29 September 2009 at St Paul's Cathedral by Rowan Williams, Archbishop of Canterbury. As Bishop of Ludlow, he ex officio holds the post of Archdeacon of Ludlow and has been a prebendary of Hereford Cathedral since 2010. He retired effective 30 April 2020.

Personal life

He married in 1979; he and his wife they have three children.

Styles