Who's Who
At the heart of any Cathedral is a small group of people who are called to maintain the daily offering of prayer and worship. The Cathedral Chapter, which includes the Dean and Canons, oversees the life of the Cathedral in all its aspects.
“As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God’s varied grace.”
Our Chapter
Members of the Carlisle Cathedral Chapter
As well as chairing meetings of the Cathedral Chapter, the Dean oversees the Cathedral’s worshipping life; and he takes responsibility for all building work and projects. He has been involved from the start with the £3.5 million project to bring the Fratry building to life as part of a strategy to allow the Cathedral to engage with more people in new ways.
The Canon Warden takes a lead role in Safeguarding, the Cathedral’s emerging Arts, Culture and Learning programme, and a full role in worship, governance and business development at the Cathedral.
The Canon Missioner is a full-time residentiary post, called to play a full part in the regular duties of the Cathedral, but with special responsibility for mission, outreach and pastoral care of those who come to the Cathedral as worshippers, visitors and pilgrims, alongside care for regular members of the Cathedral community, the permanent staff and the Cathedral volunteers.
Revd Canon Michael Manley was appointed in 2007 and also leads our all-age, family and youth work. Michael is our main link to the City Centre, our ecumenical, interfaith and community work, and our overseas projects.
Alan has lived and worked in Carlisle all his life, retiring in March 2018 after over 30 years in practice as a Chartered Accountant. He is currently a non-executive director of the Cumberland Building Society.
He is married with three children and six grandchildren. He is lay chair of the PCC at St James Carlisle and Chair of Governors at Robert Ferguson Primary School.
ROLE OF THE CHAPTER
The Cathedral Chapter:
- Maintains a pattern of daily worship and invites others to join them in these acts of prayer and praise
- Gathers at least nine times a year ‘in Chapter’ as the governing body which shapes Cathedral policy and orders the Cathedral’s life
- Serves, as opportunity allows, the community in which the Cathedral is set – both the secular community of the County of Cumbria and the City of Carlisle, and also the ecclesiastical community of the Diocese of Carlisle
- Continues the tradition of welcome and hospitality to the common life of the Cathedral and its precinct
The Cathedral Council
The Cathedral Council is the senior advisory body within the governance of the Cathedral. The Chairman and eight members of the Council are appointed by the Bishop, in consultation with the Bishop’s Council; eight others are appointed and represent different aspects of the Cathedral community. The Cathedral Council meets at least twice a year.
The College of Canons
The College of Canons brings together experienced priests who are appointed by the Bishop and who are able to advise the Chapter as it shapes Cathedral policy and act as ambassadors for the Cathedral across the diocese. Each of the 24 members of the College has their own stall within the Cathedral.
This body elects the Bishop of Carlisle as part of the formal process of appointment. In recent years, Honorary Ecumenical Canons have been able to contribute an ecumenical perspective to the deliberations of the College.
