Hundreds to gather at Southwell Minster for new Dean’s historic welcome service 

Hundreds will gather this Saturday (8th September 2007) at 4pm for an historic occasion at Southwell Minster when a Dean is installed at the cathedral for the first time.

The new Dean, the Ven John Guille, succeeds the Very Revd David Leaning, who was installed as Provost at the Minster in 1991, but later in 2000 his title was changed to Dean, following alterations in cathedral governence across the country.

John Guille will be the first clergyman to be appointed by the Bishop of Southwell & Nottingham, the Rt Revd George Cassidy, with the title of Dean, at a service for more than 800 people from across the county and beyond.

John, who is a Channel Islander, recently moved to Southwell from his position as Archdeacon of Winchester and Vice Dean. He will follow in the footsteps of five cathedral provosts who have overseen the mission of the Minster in the last century.

Acting Dean of Southwell, Canon Nigel Coates, who will lead the new Dean to his official seat in the cathedral during the service, said: ”We are eagerly looking forward to the service on September 8th at which The Ven John Guille will be installed as Dean. The service, whilst ostensibly focusing on one person, is also about the whole community and wider church in relationship with God. In marking a new appointment, we gather with many welcome guests to commit ourselves to live and work together for the kingdom of God.”

The service will include music from all three Minster choirs, including the Cathedral Choir, the Girls’ choir and the Minster Chorale. The Minster Girls’ Choir will sing an anthem specially commissioned for the service by the Southwell Minster Choir Association, entitled, ‘The Light of Grace’. The words are a prayer written by Launcelot Andrewes (1555-1626), former Prebend of Southwell and renowned Bishop of Winchester, and the music is by Andrew Parnell (born in 1954, former Southwell Cathedral Chorister).

It begins with the meeting of the two chapters of Winchester and Southwell Cathedrals, as the Dean of Winchester presents his former colleague to the Chapter of Southwell at the West Doors of the Minster. John will be made both Rector of the Parish and Dean of the Cathedral emphasizing the local responsibilities which lie alongside wider concerns for diocese and county.

Part of the service will take place in the magnificent Chapter House surrounded by the ‘leaves of Southwell’ which illustrate the service’s theme of transfiguration. He will be installed in the Quire where he will preside over the work of prayer and worship day by day - the heartbeat of all the Cathedral seeks to do.

A churchwarden, a pupil at the Minster School, and members of the ‘Faith and Light’ community will present challenges for the new Dean to develop a vision that encompasses service to the wider church, inspires the younger generation, and extends a welcome to all who need to know their value in today’s world.

The formal welcome to the Dean on behalf of the county, the diocese, and the local community will be given by the Lord Lieutenant, the lay chair of the Diocesan Synod and the chairman of Southwell Town Council. The prayers will then be offered by further representatives of the wider community from the youngest chorister to senior civic figures.

ends