Five new honorary Canons have been installed at Worcester Cathedral in recognition of their work in both the Diocese and the wider Church. Appointments are made by the Bishop of Worcester (or Acting Bishop) in consultation with the Dean.
Honorary Canons form a bridge between the Diocese and the Cathedral and meet to reflect and advise on the life of the Cathedral. There are a limited number of posts – Lay Canons and clergy outside the Diocese hold the position for a five-year period, while clergy from the Diocese remain Canons while they serve in Worcestershire or Dudley.
The Honorary Canons installed in a service in the cathedral on 7 May were:
- Kath Davis, Co-Warden of Readers and LLM in Pedmore and Wollescote (just outside of Stourbridge)
- The Revd Novette Headley, Chair of the Birmingham Methodist District (Installed as an Ecumenical Canon)
- The Revd Julie James, Rector of Berrow w Pendock, Eldersfield, Hollybush & Birtsmorton and Curate in Charge of Longdon, Castlemorton, Bushley, Queenhill w Holdfast
- Tim Reid, Diocesan Director of Education
- The Revd Andy Todd, Diocesan Secretary
Bishop Martin commented: “I’m delighted that all these brilliant people have accepted the invitation to become honorary canons of the Cathedral. They all give outstanding service to the church in different ways and will be excellent ambassadors for the cathedral in the wider church and vice versa.”
Kath Davis said: “I was truly amazed, delighted and excited to receive Bishop Martin’s invitation to become an Honorary Canon of Worcester Cathedral, the place where I was licensed as a Lay Minister in 2002. So many special memories come to mind of occasions and people throughout the intervening years. Now, some 23 years later, and as Co-Warden of Readers (Licensed Lay Ministers), I feel unworthy of the honour offered to me in this appointment. It has always been and, continues to be, a great privilege to serve my Lord in all things and to be an ambassador for Licensed Lay Ministry in general, as well as for the wonderful family of LLMs who minister day by day and week by week across our Diocese.”
Novette Headley said: ““It was a surprise and an honour to be invited to become an Honorary Canon of Worcester Cathedral. I remember my first visit to Worcester Cathedral in the 1980s when a group of young people from our Methodist Youth Exchange Programme, visiting from the Caribbean, were brought along to Worcester Cathedral. We delighted in the beauty of the cathedral’s surroundings. Today, I am more delighted about the witness to Jesus Christ that the cathedral gives through its worship and mission to the city and its communities. The Birmingham Methodist District and the Wolverhampton & Shrewsbury Methodist District are about to merge together to become the West Midlands District, and it is a joy to know that Worcester Cathedral will remain geographically at the heart of our new District. We look forward to our continued working together ecumenically. I rejoice in being associated, as an Honorary Canon, with the good works that the Cathedral is doing to live out the love of God in this place.”
Julie James said: “It was a totally unexpected honour to be invited to become an Honorary Canon of Worcester Cathedral. My connections with the Worcester Diocese started as a member of the Tibberton and Oddingley P.C.C , then Church Warden and for many years, being part of the Bowbrook Lay Team. Trained at Queens, I became a Self-Supporting Minister in the Droitwich, Worcester West and Pershore Deaneries. I subsequently became a full-time minister in the Malvern and Upton Deanery in 2014. Central to all this has always been Worcester Cathedral, the mother church of the Diocese and the place of my ordination. It is humbling to be asked to continue to serve the Cathedral and the Diocese as an ambassador and a privilege to join the College of Canons.”
Tim Reid said: “It is an incredible and unexpected honour to have been invited by Bishop Martin to become an Honorary Canon of Worcester Cathedral. Worcester is my home city, and the Cathedral has had real significance throughout my life. I performed there as a pupil of a local school, it was the venue for my university graduation and over the years I have attended many poignant services. It will be a great privilege to serve as ambassador to our beautiful and historic Cathedral and in my role as Director of Education for the Diocese, I look forward to do doing all that I can to promote the wonderful work that happens there to our church schools, parishes and wider stakeholders.”
Andy Todd said: “The Cathedral has been an important part of my life and ministry ever since I arrived in the Diocese 10 years ago, as the focus of ordinations, Chrism services, school carol services, civic events, concerts, welcomes and farewells, and for Sunday and weekday services. More recently, as part of the team leading weekday Eucharists, it has been a joy to be involved in other dimensions of the Cathedral’s daily life and ministry, too. I am constantly impressed by just how many aspects of the life of this city and Diocese are touched by the witness, worship, and prayerful support of the Cathedral community, and it is a real privilege to be asked to join the College of Canons as an ambassador for its work.”
Honorary Canons are distinct from Residentiary Canons who are on the staff of the Cathedral.
