The Very Revd Jane Hedges is to be appointed Acting Dean of Canterbury following her retirement as the Dean of Norwich this month after eight years at Norwich Cathedral. Following the announcement on Sunday morning, she said: “As I leave Norwich, which is steeped in Benedictine spirituality, it will be a joy to serve in another Benedictine foundation with the same core principles at the heart of its life.”
Her Majesty The Queen has approved the appointment of The Very Revd Jane Hedges as a Residentiary Canon at Canterbury Cathedral. This Crown appointment has been made to allow Jane to take up the role of Acting Dean of Canterbury, who must be a Residentiary Canon. The process of appointing a new Dean is underway, following the retirement, later this month, of The Very Revd Dr Robert Willis who has served Canterbury Cathedral as Dean for 21 years. A new Dean will be appointed later this year.
The Very Revd Jane Hedges, the 39th Dean of Norwich, became the first female Dean in Norwich Cathedral’s 900-year history in 2014 and a special day of Farewell Services took place at Norwich Cathedral on Sunday 1 May.
She was one of the first women priests to be ordained in 1994, and was a Stewardship Adviser in the Diocese of Portsmouth before she became Canon Residentiary of Portsmouth Cathedral. After spending five years in parish ministry in the Diocese of Exeter, The Very Revd Jane Hedges was made Canon Steward of Westminster Abbey in 2006.
She is expected to take up the role of Acting Dean in the latter half of June, this year.
The Archbishop of Canterbury said: “I am absolutely delighted that Jane has agreed to bring her considerable talents, experience and love of Christ to Canterbury Cathedral, and I know I am joined by Anglicans in Canterbury and around the world in my deep gratitude for Dean Robert’s twenty-one years of service. This interim role comes at a crucial time as the Cathedral emerges from Covid 19 and with the Lambeth Conference taking place in Canterbury in July and August. I look forward to serving alongside her in this remarkable, historic building in its ministry to the diocese, the Church of England and the global Anglican Communion. Please join me in praying for Jane and her family as they take this next step in their journey.”
The Very Revd Jane Hedges said: “It is hugely exciting and a great honour to have been asked to take on the role of Acting Dean of Canterbury. I very much look forward to working with Chapter colleagues as preparations are made to welcome Bishops from across the Anglican Communion for the Lambeth Conference. As I leave Norwich, which is steeped in Benedictine spirituality, it will be a joy to serve in another Benedictine foundation with the same core principles at the heart of its life.”
Canterbury Cathedral’s Canon Missioner, and Acting Vice-Dean, The Revd Dr Emma Pennington, said: “I know I speak on behalf of our Cathedral community when I say how pleased we are by the announcement of Dean Jane’s appointment, and that we all greatly look forward to welcoming her to Canterbury. Her support and the experience she brings will be greatly valued in this period of significant change for the Cathedral.”
