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ROBED IN RED AND GOLD

21 June 2004

The first honorary Lay Canons in the 99 year history of Southwark Diocese were installed by the Rt Rev. Dr Tom Butler, Bishop of Southwark and the Very Rev Colin Slee, Dean of Southwark, at evensong on Sunday 13 June. Each Canon was robed for the first time in their mantles which are in the colours of the Cathedral arms and bear those arms on the left shoulder.

In his sermon following the installation Bishop Tom reminded the congregation that Sarah Goad was the second honorary Lay Canon in her family - her husband is an honorary Lay Canon at Guildford Cathedral - and noting that this probably made them a unique couple, urged them not to get their robes mixed up!

Focussing on the Old Testament reading in which Abraham said to Lot 'let there be no strife between you and me', Bishop Tom recalled how different the world would have been if these words had been heeded throughout history. A Canon, by definition, is a standard by which behaviour can be measured and Lay Canons have their part to play in this.

Referring to the new Canons, he spoke of the contributions that they had each made to Diocesan and national life in the areas of education, finance, ethnic minority development, law and administration. He reminded the congregation that they had been appointed not simply because of these contributions but because they are exemplary in their own right. He prayed that the new Canons would be well beloved contributors to the life of the Cathedral and the Diocese.

Following the service Bishop Tom commented: 'Here in Southwark Diocese we are privileged to have people of such fine calibre who are willing to serve the Diocese in a variety of capacities. Our Honorary Lay Canons give us fine examples of the skills, gifts and qualities that help to make our Diocese the special and vibrant place that it is. I look forward to working with them in their new roles.'

The Lay Canons are:

• Mrs Linda Borthwick - The St Alphege Stall
• Mr Andrew Britton - The John Rogers Stall
• Ms Beverly Fraser - The Charles (C F) Andrews Stall
• Mrs Sarah Goad - The Alice Prowde Ellis Stall
• Mr Brian McHenry - The John Boston Stall

BIOGRAPHICAL NOTES

Linda Borthwick is Director of the Southwark Diocesan Board of Education, and has worked with the Board for more than 25 years. She was a member of the Dearing Review of Church Schools and Colleges, was until February 2004 Vice Chair of the Governing Body of Whitelands College and has served on many national educational bodies. She is due to retire in July 2004 and has worshipped at Southwark Cathedral for many years where she was Cathedral Warden until April 2004.

Andrew Britton has been Chair of the Southwark Diocesan Board of Finance since May 2000. A retired government economist, he is a Reader at St Margaret's, Chipstead. He has undertaken key national roles in the Church of England, including Executive Secretary of the Churches' Enquiry into Unemployment and the Future of Work.

Beverly Fraser is the Vice Chair of the Southwark Diocesan Board of Education, helping to shape the Board's work in schools, especially with minority ethnic children and has chaired the Southwark Black and Minority Ethnic Forum Working Group for the past six years. She worships at St Anne and All Saints South Lambeth where she served as Church Warden for eight years.

Sarah Goad, JP was appointed Lord Lieutenant of Surrey in 1997. She was elected Chairman of the Southwark Cathedral Council in 2000. She is a member of St Mary's Church, Bletchingley and has served extensively in educational and charitable fields, acting as Trustee and Chairman for several charitable organisations.

Brian McHenry is a Southwark Diocesan representative to the General Synod and Vice-Chair of the General Synod's House of Laity, as well as a member of the Archbishops' Council. He was also a member of the Crown Appointments Commission from 1997 to 2002 and is a Reader at St John's Church, East Dulwich. He works as the Chief Legal Advisor to the Competitions Commission and has been involved in several high profile inquiries, including the BSE Inquiry.

ENDS.

Photographs are available.

The Honorary Lay Canons are available for interview.

Notes to Editors

The appointment of Lay Canons was made possible under the terms of the Cathedrals Measure 1999 and the new Constitution of Southwark Cathedral which was approved in 2000.

Each Lay Canon has a Stall which has been named after people who played a part in the history of the area covered by Southwark Diocese

St Alphege was Archbishop of Canterbury 1006 - 1012. He was martyred at Greenwich by the Danes, being beaten to death with Ox bones after refusing to be ransomed.
John Rogers was the 'first protestant martyr', a close associate of William Tyndale. He was tried for heresy in the retro-choir of Southwark Cathedral and burned at the stake at Smithfield.
Charles (C F) Andrews was a close friend of Gandhi and Tagore, a respecter of other faiths and a campaigner for Indian independence. He was ordained in Southwark Cathedral.
Alice Prowde Ellis donated statues to the great Screen and on her death in 1928 bequeathed a generous sum to the Cathedral besides supporting other diocesan and church organizations.
John Boston was parish clerk to St Saviour's from 1604 to 1625. He worked tirelessly during the Southwark plague of 1625. He ensured that every corpse received a proper Christian burial and that the records of every death were properly kept. He himself succumbed to the plague, concerned even on his deathbed that the records should be kept properly.

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