For over twenty years the Cathedral Council has supported the life of Chichester Cathedral, reviewing and advising upon the direction and oversight of the work of the Chapter.
Meeting twice a year since its inauguration in January 2001, the Council has discussed a range of topics, most recently consulting on the development of the Cathedral’s new vision, inspired by the four Dominican Pillars of Prayer, Study, Mission and Community.
The Council, chaired by Harry Goring, met for the last time on 26th July 2023. In signing this new governance structure, the Cathedral Council concluded its ministry as an important advisory body to the Chapter. In time, it will be replaced by a Community Committee, made up of representatives drawn from a wide range of stakeholders from across the communities that the Cathedral serves.
The Cathedral is currently transitioning from the 1999 Cathedrals Measure, to the new 2021 Measure. As part of this change the Chapter are required, with the permission of the Bishop of Chichester and the Cathedral Council, to make amendments to the Constitution and Statutes, and to register with the Charity Commission.
The membership of the last Council included:
- Chair: Mr Harry Goring (RHG)
- Revd Canon Simon Holland, Interim Dean of Chichester
- Rt Revd Dr Martin Warner, Bishop of Chichester
- Revd Canon Dr Jack Dunn, Chancellor
- Revd Canon Vanessa Baron, Treasurer
- Dr Brian Hanson
- Ms Marguerite Saffery
- Revd Canon Mark Payne
- Revd Canon Dr Daniel Inman, Precentor (Apologies)
- Mr Julian Munby (Apologies)
- Mr Ian Buckley (Apologies)
- Mr Duncan Irvine (Apologies)
Interim Dean of Chichester, The Reverend Canon Simon Holland, said:
“We are grateful to the current and past members of the Cathedral Council for their contribution to the life of the Cathedral over the past two decades, and especially to the outgoing Chair, Harry Goring. This final meeting of the Council represented an important step on the journey of the Cathedral fully registering as a charity. It is hoped that this process will be completed by December 2023.”