The Lord Lieutenant of Surrey, Mrs Sarah Goad, is to Chair the new Council of Southwark Cathedral. She lives in the south-west part of Southwark Diocese and is a member of St Mary's Church, Bletchingley, Surrey.

The Council has recently been set up as part of the new Constitution and Statutes for cathedrals in the Cathedrals Measure 1999. It will include representatives of clergy and laity from across the Diocese, which covers south London and east Surrey and is designed to be a reference group which assists the Cathedral in directing its work to as many people as possible.

Sarah Goad's father, Uvedale Lambert of South Park, Bletchingley, gave Wychcroft House to be the diocesan training centre. It remains very popular with parishes, church agencies and schools for residential and day courses. South Park also hosted Christian house parties for 25 years, initially led by Father Raymond Raynes, Superior of the Community of the Resurrection. This work, together with other initiatives he sponsored were extremely influential in the development of theology which blended Catholic and liberal thinking in the Anglican tradition.

The Dean of Southwark, the Very Rev Colin Slee, commented: "We are delighted that Sarah Goad has agreed to chair Southwark Cathedral Council. She represents a long tradition of support for the church, as well as a strong commitment to service in the wider community. She will also help to strengthen the connection between the inner-city and the more rural south of the Diocese."

BIOGRAPHY

Sarah Goad, who is approaching her 60th birthday, is the daughter of Uvedale Lambert and Diana, neé Grey (d 1944) and the step daughter of Melanie Grant Lambert, of Denver, Colorado. In 1961 she married Timothy Goad, DL, and they have a daughter, two sons and now four grandchildren. She was a director of Tilburstow Farms Co Ltd, 1963-70, and a partner in Lambert Farmers, 1970-94. Mrs Goad was appointed a JP in 1974, becoming a member of the Surrey Magistrates' Society, 1987-93, and deputy chairman of the Family Panel, 1992 to 1997. In 1997 she was appointed Lord Lieutenant of Surrey. She has served extensively in the educational and charitable fields, as Trustee and Chairman of Surrey Care Trust, 1987-97, Love Walk home for disabled, 1984-98; Trustee of St Mark's Foundation since 1971; Governor of St Stephen's C of E School, 1970-1990, and Hazelwood School, 1979-84. Her recreations include books, buildings, and the arts.

Ends.