Ashley joined the Cliff College staff as Principal in September 2017, following his role as Senior Minister at Swan Bank Methodist Church in Stoke and the Superintendent of the Burslem Mission Circuit. Having trained for ordained ministry in the Methodist Church at Hartley Victoria College Manchester, Ashley has previously served in the Delamere Forest Circuit, as the District Evangelism Enabler in the Chester and Stoke District, and as the Coordinator of District Evangelism Enablers in the Methodist Church.

Ashley brings to this role the experience of leading a large church through a time of transition and change. A key part of his ministry has been to implement significant organisational leadership and structural change, and he is committed to investing in lay leadership. He has helped bring the ECG conference to birth, being part of its leadership team over the last 10 years, and has established the ‘Navigating Change’ conference hosted at Swan Bank.