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22 June 2005

The Bishop of Southwark, the Rt. Rev. Dr Tom Butler, collated and installed one new Honorary Lay Canon and four new Honorary Canons during Evensong at Southwark Cathedral on Sunday 5 June.

In his address Bishop Tom said that Simon Parton, the new Honorary Lay Canon, had been a very effective Diocesan Secretary since 1998 and that parishes and clergy knew that they would get expert advice and pastoral understanding from Trinity House. He continued by saying that as Simon is a church organist, he understands the workings of the church at all levels. Simon Parton was installed into the George Gwilt stall.

The Bishop then went on to say that the four ordained Canons demonstrate the breadth of ordained life across the Diocese. Two of them, Colin Wood and Martin Clark, are honoured for their work in parish ministry and two, Anne Stevens, Director of Reader Training and Andrew Wilson, Chaplain to the South London and Maudsley NHS Trust, for their specialised ministry.

The previous day, in the Cathedral, there had been a celebration of 100 years of Reader Ministry and Bishop Tom referred to it and noted that many of the people there had benefited from the professionalism of Anne Stevens, who was installed into the F D Maurice stall. He went on to say that Andrew Wilson was a wonderful ambassador for the Church in his dealings with the people he met through his Chaplaincy work and that his ministry was very significant in a time when much responsibility for care was being placed on communities. Andrew Wilson was installed into the William Wilberforce stall.

Bishop Tom then paid tribute to Martin Clark - who he referred to as a ‘streetwise’ priest who had achieved remarkable things since arriving at Angell Town, St John in 1998. Martin Clark’s stall is named after Edward Alleyn.

Colin Wood was, the Bishop said ‘the salt of the earth’, the kind of priest who might be overlooked for just ‘getting on with his ministry’ having been Team Vicar of Morden, St Martin, his first post after serving his title, since 1993. Colin Wood was installed into the Peter des Roches stall.

Bishop Tom reminded the congregation that the new Canons will all be influential in their own way as they exercise the real power they have in helping to shape the life and ministry of the Cathedral. They will assist in its governance in an advisory capacity and promote it in the wider Diocese.

Ends.

Note:

Honorary Canons
An Honorary Canonry is an honour conferred by the Diocesan Bishop as an expression of appreciation of service to the Diocese. The new Canons, who are each allocated a stall in the Choir Stalls, will assist in the governance of the Cathedral in an advisory capacity and promote it in the wider Diocese. Each Canon is invited to celebrate the Eucharist in the Cathedral on the day allocated to their particular stall.

Lay Canons
As with Honorary Canons, a Lay Canonry is an honour conferred by the Diocesan Bishop as an expression of appreciation of service to the Diocese. Lay Canons work alongside the Dean and Chapter to help oversee the smooth running of the Cathedral and its community, and serve an initial five-year term of office. They, like Honorary Canons, are allocated a stall in the Choir Stalls.

Diocesan Communications Officer
Tel: 020-7939 9400
Mobile: 07831-694021
Fax: 020-7939 9468