In consultation with the Chapter, the Bishop has appointed to the College of Canons Mr Paddy Nugent as a Chapter Lay Canon.

The Chapter has also appointed The Revd Dr Jonathan Roberts as a Minor Canon.

We congratulate them both most warmly and look forward to their installation on Sunday 8 December during 3.30 pm Choral Evensong, which all are welcome to attend. During the service, the Bishop will also dedicate the new Booth Porch draught lobby.

Notes:

Prebendaries are senior clergy, appointed by the Bishop in recognition of their ministry and giving a particular link with the Cathedral.  Some Cathedrals call their Prebendaries ‘Honorary Canons’.  Prebendary is the term used, originally, in ‘non-monastic’ Cathedrals such as Hereford – a ‘Prebend’ was a portion of land – often a farm, the income of which provided an income to support the Prebendary.  The income for such posts has long since disappeared but the title remains as a rather lovely tradition!

Lay members of the College of Canons were introduced following the Cathedrals Measure 1999 and there are now four diocesan lay canons, whom the Bishop has appointed in recognition of their distinguished service to the diocese, plus a maximum of six chapter lay canons, who bring their expertise and experience to bear upon the governance of the cathedral. As a body, the lay canons, the prebendaries, and the residentiary canons form the College of Canons and one of the college’s principal roles is to elect a new bishop, following nomination by the Crown: this role was last exercised in December 2019, when The Right Reverend Richard Jackson was elected to serve as our 106th diocesan bishop.

The chief work of the College of Canons is to:

• Pray for and support the work of the diocese and cathedral.
• Attend the Annual College of Canons meetings.
• For Prebendaries – to preach once a year in the cathedral.
• To gather as a college to ‘elect’ a new diocesan Bishop, when the name is announced by the Crown.