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. In the diocese, Canon Jan is an assistant director of ordinands.
Before ordination Canon Jan taught ergonomics and psychology to industrial design students in London and the South East, examined postgraduate students at University College London, and consulted in ergonomics and psychology to industry, commerce, the Armed Forces and the emergency services. She was director of music at a parish church with a strong choral tradition.
Canon Jan was collated by the Bishop of Carlisle and installed by the Dean on Sunday June 23rd 2013 during Choral Evensong. Still connected with the deeply rural area her family have lived in for generations, Canon Jan’s previous ministry has included market town, urban priority area/estates, police chaplaincy and a parish chaplaincy to a military regiment.
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 the care of those who come to the Cathedral as worshippers, visitors and pilgrims, as well as 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.
Bryan Gray was Pro-Chancellor of Lancaster University from 2003 until 2013 and was the Chairman of its Council. He was the Chairman of the Northwest Regional Development Agency from 2002 until August 2009, Chairman of Peel Media Group (responsible for MediaCityUK, the BBC’s new northern base), and is currently a director of Westmorland Ltd, which operates motorway services.
He was Chairman of Preston North End Football Club until October 2001 and was founder Chairman of the National Football Museum. He was Chairman of the Liverpool Culture Company, responsible for Liverpool’s year as European Capital of Culture.
He was a Member of the Lake District National Park Authority and the Churches Trust for Cumbria. He is Chairman of the Lowther Castle and Gardens Trust, Cumbria County History Trust, and is a Lay Canon of Carlisle Cathedral. He is Chairman of the Settle and Carlisle Railway Trust and was a member of the Advisory Board of the National Railway Museum.
In 2006 he was awarded the HRH, The Prince of Wales’ Ambassador Award for the NW and in 2008 he was awarded a CBE in the Queen’s New Year Honours list for services to regeneration in the North West following an MBE for service to regeneration in Preston.
He is a Deputy Lieutenant of Cumbria and a former High Sheriff of Lancashire.
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.
