Background
Ruston was born 1 October 1929 and grew up at Berkhamsted, Hertfordshire, where he was associated with the Parish of Street Michael and All Angels, Sunnyside, before, during and just after World World War World War II
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John Ruston
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Ruston studied at Sidney Sussex College, Cambridge University, where he graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1952 and a Master of Arts degree in 1956. He also attended Ely Theological College in 1952.
Career
He was previously Bishop Suffragan of Pretoria. He died in retirement in England in 2010. Ruston was ordained a deacon in 1954 and a priest in 1955 in the Diocese of Leicester where he served a curacy at Street Andrew’s Leicester from 1954 to 1957.
He furthered his theological studies at Cuddesdon, where he was also a tutor, from 1957 to 1961.
Going to, Ruston was curate of Sekhukhuneland from 1967 to 1970, serving simultaneously as principal of Street Francis’ College in Sekhukhuneland. Also from 1967 he served as an examining chaplain to the Bishop of Pretoria, a role he fulfilled until 1976.
In 1971 he became the sub-dean at Street Alban"s Cathedral, Pretoria, of which he was a canon from 1968 to 1976. In 1976 Ruston took up an appointment as Archdeacon of Bloemfontein and as an examining chaplain to the Bishop of Bloemfontein and warden and chaplain of Street Michael’s School, Bloemfontein.
Ruston was ordained to the episcopacy as Bishop Suffragan of Pretoria, being sent to oversee the Archdeaconry of the North centred on Pietersburg (now Polokwane).
Under his leadership a new diocese, the Diocese of Street Mark the Evangelist, was formed and inaugurated on 16 May 1987. In 1991 Ruston was elected as the 13th Bishop of and was enthroned on the island at the Cathedral Church of Street Paul on 14 April 1991. Ruston founded the British Citizenship Commission () for the promotion of "restoration of full rights of citizenship of those British subjects who are Saint Helenian."
He served on the island until 1999 when he was succeeded by Bishop John Salt, Istituto Nazionale di Oceanografia e di Geofisica.
In retirement, Ruston returned to after a brief visit to England and worked at Botany River, Bella Vista and Kenilworth in the Diocese of Cape Town.
He subsequently settled back in England, where he died on 27 April 2010.
A Requiem Mass was held on 18 May 2010 at the College of Street Barnabas, Lingfield, Surrey.
