NEW CANONS INSTALLED AT SALISBURY CATHEDRAL - Archived
Issued Thursday 5th October 2006
The Revd John Holbrook, the Revd Jonathan Martin, the Revd. Humphrey Southern, and the Rt Revd. Stephen Conway were all installed as Canons of the Cathedral on Thursday, 5th October 2006 during Evensong. The service was led by the Dean of Salisbury, the Very Revd June Osborne. The installations were conducted by the Bishop of Salisbury, the Right Revd David Stancliffe, from whom the invitations came officially in the first instance.
Each Canon is allocated their own prebendal stall in the Quire of the Cathedral. Now installed, the new Canons join a body known as, "The College of Canons". This was established in July 2001 under the new Cathedral Statutes. Canons can be both ordained priests and lay persons. Through the College of Canons the Cathedral can express its commitment to the wider community, and in particular diocesan and civic life in the counties of Wiltshire and Dorset. The College meets twice a year and helps to provide feedback to the Cathedral on its activities and, through representing a wide range of interests and opinions, helps to inform the policy decisions of the Cathedral.
The Revd. John Holbrook is presently Rector of Wimborne Minster, a post he has held since 2001. John also serves as Rural Dean, Hospital Chaplain, School Governor and as an elected member of Bishop’s Council. Ordained in Southwark Cathedral 20 years ago, John’s experience before moving to Dorset included curacies in London and Milton Keynes (ecumenical project), rural ministry in North Oxfordshire and a joint project with a Business School on the application of spirituality in the workplace. His key passion in ministry is mission and represents the diocese on the national Missioners’ network. John, 44, is married to Elizabeth and has two children, Thomas and Anna. In his spare time (!) he enjoys reading, supports Bristol City and loves sailing. John is looking forward to this additional responsibility; “It’s a great honour to be invited to share the Cathedral’s life as a Canon. I look forward to it and hope I can make a useful contribution.”
The Revd. Jonathan Martin’s background is in accountancy, having established a Co-operative Accountancy Practise before being ordained. He is currently Chaplain to the Borough of Poole and Minister of the Parkstone United Reformed Church. Jonathan also holds a number of other roles including Honorary Officiating Chaplain to Royal Marines, Poole; and he is trustee to several charties, such as STRIVE and chair of community groups, including the Dorset Co-operative Development Agency and Faithworks Poole whose projects include spirituality: combating isolation in the elderly: homelessness and addictions: fair-trade and caring for the carers. Jonathan has four children and is married to Sue. An Everton supporter he enjoys reading and relaxes by watching ballet and dance.
The Revd. Humphrey Southern was brought up in the Diocese of Salisbury in Bratton. Sponsored for ordination by the Diocese he studied in Oxford and undertook a pre-Theological College Placement in the Episcopal Church of the Sudan arranged through the Salisbury-Sudan link in 1982. Humphrey returned to the diocese seven years ago when he became Team Rector of the Naddar Valley, based in Tisbury, he lives with his wife, Emma and children, Laura (8) and Kate (7). As Rural Dean of Chalke Deanery and Chairman of the House of Clergy in the Diocesan Synod his responsibilities extend beyond the parishes of the Team ministry. He brings a passionate interest in Anglicanism and a concern for the unity of the Church both within the Anglican Communion and beyond. Horses, dogs and children (in no particular order) together with food, drink, friends and good conversation conspire to fill – most acceptably – the time he finds to spend away from such weighty matters.
The Rt Revd. Stephen Conway was recently ordained Bishop of Ramsbury. Stephen, 48, was ordained a priest in 1987 and has spent the whole of his ministry in the Diocese of Durham. As well as being a parish priest he has held a number of other posts. He has been a Director of Ordinands, with responsibility for overseeing new candidates for ordination, and has served as the Bishop of Durham’s Senior Chaplain, working directly with the Bishop to support his ministry. Since 2002 he has been the Archdeacon of Durham and the Canon Treasurer of its Cathedral, serving the clergy and churchwardens of some eighty parishes in the North East, both urban and rural. Mission and evangelism are at the heart of how he sees his ministry, both as practitioner and encourager. Stephen has a passionate interest in mental health and is the chair of the trustees of Mental Health Matters, a national mental health charity and provider of services to people with mental health needs. Stephen is a keen walker. He enjoys rugby and cricket as a spectator. He enjoys the cinema and is interested in the connection between faith and film. He reads theology and history at any time and thrillers late at night. He enjoys cooking and inflicting the results on others.
Image: The four new Canons with the Dean, the Very Revd. June Osborne, at their installation on Thursday 5th October 2006.
From left to right: The Rt. Revd Stephen Conway (Bishop of Ramsbury), The Revd Jonathan Martin (Chaplain to Poole Borough Council and Minister of Parkstone United Reformed Church), The Very Revd June Osborne (Dean of Salisbury), The Revd John Holbrook (Rector of Wimborne Minster), The Revd Humphrey Southern (Team Rector Nadder Valley).