Rt. Rev. John Arthur Baycroft
1933-
Anglican Bishop John Baycroft of Ottawa and Msgr. Donald Bolen
Anglican Bishop John Baycroft of Ottawa and Msgr. Donald Bolen

Series: John Baycroft (1933-)

ARCIC-II (Member), ARC-Canada (Member), IARCCUM (Secretary, 2002-2008) and IARCCUM (Consultant, 2003-2008)

The Rt. Rev’d John Arthur Baycroft MA(Cantab) BD (born 2 June 1933 in Redcar, North Yorkshire, England) is a retired Anglican bishop known for his leadership in the Diocese of Ottawa and significant contributions to ecumenical dialogue. He was educated at Sir William Turner School in Redcar and Christ’s College, Cambridge. Ordained in 1956, he served in various parishes in Ontario, including Loughborough, Ottawa, and Perth, before becoming Dean of Ottawa in 1984. In 1986, he was consecrated as Suffragan Bishop of Ottawa and later served as the diocesan bishop from 1992 until his retirement in 1999.

Following his retirement, Bishop Baycroft was appointed as the Director of the Anglican Centre in Rome and as the Archbishop of Canterbury’s Representative to the Holy See from 1999 to 2001. In this role, he played a pivotal part in fostering Anglican–Roman Catholic relations. He was a member of the Anglican-Roman Catholic International Commission (ARCIC) and served as Secretary of the International Anglican–Roman Catholic Commission for Unity and Mission (IARCCUM) from 2002 to 2008.

Bishop Baycroft has also been involved in theological education, teaching religion and history at Carleton University and theology at Saint Paul University in Ottawa. His commitment to ecumenism and theological scholarship has been recognized through various honors, including being awarded the Eugene de Mazenod Medal by Saint Paul University for his significant contributions to developing human capital in society.

He is the author of The Anglican Way (1980), a work that explores Anglican identity and practice. Throughout his ministry, Bishop Baycroft has been dedicated to building bridges between denominations and promoting understanding within the Christian community.

Documents authored by Rt. Rev. John Arthur Baycroft