Bp Robert Innes writes–‘The consecration brought together bishops, clergy and lay people from many different countries, as well as local Roman Catholic and representatives. On the right of the photo is Bishop Antony Ball, Ashley’s predecessor, who is now the Director of the Anglican Centre in Rome. North Africa is a neighbouring diocese to Europe – it is only 125 miles from Tunis to the coast of Sicily – so I was pleased to be able to support their ministry personally as well as on behalf of the Anglican Communion.
Bishop Ashley Null is a serious scholar who retains an academic post in Berlin, and is a world leading authority on Thomas Cranmer. He had designed the liturgy to reflect Cranmer’s theological insights. Dressed in a Canterbury cap (one needs a hat in the North African sun), Bishop Ashley could quite easily have been mistaken for a reincarnation of Cranmer himself.
The consecration was the centre-piece of a celebratory weekend in Tunis, that included concerts and visits to the ancient sites. Of course, as Archbishop Samy reminded us in his sermon, Christian ministry in the Islamic context of North Africa is hard, and the consecration is really just the honeymoon ahead of likely sacrifice and possible suffering.’
Congratulations to the Rt. Rev. Dr. Ashley Null: the new Bishop of the Anglican Diocese of North Africa! pic.twitter.com/Xlxz0IsYie
— Richard Tarsitano ⚓️ (@GodRemembrancer) May 13, 2025