The Revd Dr Stephen Edwards was installed as a ResidentiaryCanon of Worcester Cathedral on Sunday in a special service of Evensong.Stephen joins the Cathedral Chapter from the Diocese of Manchester and willhave a particular responsibility for promoting the Cathedrals mission in theDiocese and local community, and for the pastoral care and spiritual nurture ofthe Cathedral community.
Worcester Cathedral has three Residentiary Canons. They areappointed by the Queen and are priests with responsibility alongside the Deanfor the Spiritual life of the Cathedral. They have day-to-day liturgical,pastoral and preaching duties and as members of the Cathedral Chapter theyshare in the governance of the Cathedral and are trustees of the cathedralalmshouse, St Oswalds Hospital.
Stephen said: "The service was a joyous occasionthrough which I felt blessed by the warmth and generosity of welcome and theprayerful support of all those who attended. I am very excited about this newrole and I am looking forward to meeting many of the wonderful and creativeprojects and organisations in the City and County, and to being part of theCathedral community."
The Dean of Worcester, Peter Atkinson, said: We weredelighted to welcome Stephen Edwards as a new Canon of the Cathedral. He comesto us from being the parish priest of Wythenshawe in Manchester, one of thelargest housing estates in the country. He will have a special role inpromoting the work of the Cathedral in the City and the County.
At the service Helen Dimmock MBE, ecclesiastical secretaryto the Crown, presented Stephen to Bishop John on behalf of the Queen. Alsopresent was the Mayor of Worcester, the Vice-Lieutenant and High Sheriff ofWorcestershire and the former Bishop of Dudley, David Walker, who is now Bishopof Manchester. Stephen was also supported by friends and family from throughoutthe country.
Stephen was ordained in 1996, serving first in the Church inWales. He has been a priest in the Diocese of Manchester since 2002, initiallyRector of the inner-city parish of St Agness Longsight before moving in 2012to be Team Rector of Wythenshawe. He was also Area Dean of Withington and theBishop of Manchesters adviser for liturgy and worship as well as the co-ordinatorof the Manchester Estate Ministry Network. His interests include architecture,ales and a love of dogs!
