Michaelmas Letter from the Dean
The Revd Canon Dr Neil Evans
Yes, I know Michaelmas isn’t until the end of September but having been a priest at two churches dedicated to St Michael and All Angels, and having 365 angels in our West Window, angelic patronage is certainly something I have come to treasure.
Transition at Southwell Cathedral is moving into a new, exciting and more permanent phase, with a number of key appointments having been, or in the process of being, made. We are in the midst of another highly successful exhibition with The Longest Yarn 2, and music continues to play a focal role with a new term for the Choir and the wonderful success of the Southwell Music Festival.
Cathedral Leadership and Staff
New Dean. Interviews for the new Dean are taking place later this month. It is expected that the successful candidate will be announced in October. The new Dean will then begin at the start of February.
Chief Operating Officer (COO). Our new Chief Operating Officer, Philip Morris, started during August and has very rapidly got up to speed with a good number of important issues for the present and future of Southwell Cathedral. Phil comes to us from his role as the COO of a large law firm; he also has hands-on experience of being Churchwarden of a church in this diocese.
Chief Finance Officer (CFO). We have appointed David Walker as our Chief Finance Officer. David joined us as member of Chapter at the beginning of the year and enjoyed being involved with the Cathedral so much that he applied for the role of (part-time) CFO to follow on from his retirement as CFO of a large commercial company. David will begin his role in March next year, but in the meantime, he will continue to stay in touch with the finances, working closely with Jon Paynter, our excellent interim Management Accountant. Jon has agreed to stay until David arrives and give a healthy handover.
Building and Estates Manager. With a generous grant from the Church Commissioners, we have appointed Michael Gilbert, a Chartered Surveyor, as our Buildings and Estate Manager. This is a really important appointment to carry through the recommendations of our property Master Plan. Michael is extremely well equipped and experienced to carry out this role. He starts with us in mid-September. Nick Turner has been undertaking some of this work on a part-time basis, and we are very grateful for all he has done. After a short handover, Nick will leave for well-earned retirement.
Cathedral Safeguarding Officer. We are also delighted to welcome Lucy Andrewartha as our new (part-time) dedicated Cathedral Safeguarding Officer. Lucy started at the beginning of the month and comes to us with a great deal of experience in safeguarding, having worked with children and vulnerable adults as a qualified social worker.
Verger Team. Following the departure Clayton to pastures new, we welcome Sarah Adams and Jenna Karlsson to the team. Jenna is with us on a part-time basis and Sarah is offering flexible support when needed.
Property Master Planning
The initial findings of our consultants have now been seen by the Project Group in draft form. There is a clear recognition that we need to move from our property being a financial drain to it working for us. Some imaginative ideas are being considered, and it is hoped that these can be shared once initial consideration has been given. We are currently moving into the stage of costing the various options to understand what offers practical solutions.
The Nave Roof
Alongside the forward planning we also have to focus on some of the immediate issues being presented. The Nave roof has a number of issues which our architect advises need attention. Works to ensure that we are watertight are being scheduled, and it is hoped that these will begin in the near future. We have received generous offers of funding to support this work from local grant-giving bodies, which we hope will cover the majority of costs associated with this work.
Safeguarding
As you may know, we are currently preparing for a Safeguarding Audit, which will be carried out by INEQE Safeguarding Group, an independent organisation commissioned by the national Church of England. This audit is part of the Church of England’s response to the recommendations from the Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse (IICSA). It will take a close look at safeguarding practices and culture across the whole diocese, as part of a national review across the Church of England. This is a great opportunity to reflect on what’s working well and identify where we can strengthen safeguarding within the Cathedral. The audit is not there to catch us out, but rather to ensure that we are not only compliant, but more importantly doing all we can to protect and support children, young people and vulnerable adults.
The audit for the Diocese of Southwell and Nottingham is scheduled for early January 2026. However, over the coming weeks, everyone who is part of the life of the Cathedral will be encouraged to input into this safeguarding audit, primarily through surveys or by participating in focus groups.
The work in the Cathedral is being led by Canon Amanda, along with Cathedral Safeguarding Officer Lucy and Chief Operating Officer Phil.
Please look out for further communication coming shortly on the INEQE audit. Most importantly of all, do ensure you give your feedback so that your voice is heard and we can continue to learn and work together for a safer church.
Annual Report and Accounts
There have been a number of unexpected delays in receiving our audited accounts for 2024; however, we are now on course to file them by the end of the month. Our new auditors have done a very thorough job, for which we are very grateful. This means we are clearer on our current financial situation, though it continues to be very challenging. We expect the report and accounts to be on our website by the end of September.
Divine Light
Divine Light: The Stained Glass of England’s Cathedrals is a new book by Janet Gough. The stained-glass windows of England’s cathedrals illuminate interior spaces, communicate religious, historical and political messages, and – perhaps – offer us a glimpse of heaven. Divine Light tells the remarkable story of these much-loved works of art, including at least one window from every cathedral in England and featuring the Angel Window in Southwell Minster. Divine Light costs £14.95 and is available to pre-order from the Cathedral Shop now.
The Longest Yarn 2: Britain at War
Following the huge success of The Longest Yarn last year, we are delighted to be hosting, once again, the UK premiere of the next phase of the project. The exhibition has already attracted several thousand visitors, and tickets for the timeslots are going fast. To find out more, visit our website at The Longest Yarn 2: Britain at War | Southwell Minster
Regular Giving
Regular giving by members of the Cathedral community is a central part of our finances, and of course taxpayers can add an extra 25% to their donations by Gift Aid. During October we will be highlighting this important area of income and asking members of our community to consider their financial commitment to the Minster.
Giving has never been easier now that we are registered with the Parish Giving Scheme. Information can be found on our website at: Other ways to support Southwell Minster | Southwell Minster
Congregation Forum
A newly formatted Congregation Forum will gather for the first time on Thursday 2 October at 6.30pm in the State Chamber (replacing the old Community Meeting). I will give a brief update on ‘Minster Matters’, followed by a chance to ask questions. The meeting will then be opened to 3 items raised by congregation members. These should be matters of general interest, not personal issues. Three will be chosen from topics received by office@southwellminster.org.uk by Sunday 14 September. Please give contact details when submitting topics, since we will get back to you if your topic is chosen. You will be able to introduce your topic (two minutes maximum) at the forum. The aim of the Forum will be to facilitate communication between and about the Minster. The Forum will be run and facilitated by the Minster Churchwardens.
Music at Southwell
We begin a new academic year at Southwell with new Choristers and an exciting year ahead. We also welcome our new organ scholar, Nathan Monk. There are many highlights to look forward to in the term ahead – culminating, of course, in our Christmas celebrations.
However, it is wonderful to mark the amazing Southwell Music Festival, which we are so proud to host here at the Cathedral. It really is a world-class event, and we are so fortunate to have our own Marcus Farnsworth at the helm.
Music is at the heart of our life, mission and ministry at the Cathedral, and we are exploring a number of ways to both support what we currently do and also to share our resources and expertise more widely across the county.
Looking forward
Along with our regular pattern of worship, there’s much to look forward to at Southwell Minster. Please do pick up a copy of the Autumn / Winter edition of What’s On or find details here: https://www.southwellminster.org/whats-on/whats-on-guide/
It is such a privilege to be a part of this wonderful Cathedral and to witness to how many people’s lives it touches. To quote Jacob:
And he dreamed there was a ladder set up on earth, the top of it reaching to heaven; and the angels of God were ascending and descending on it… ‘How awesome is this place! This is none other than the house of God, and this is the gate of heaven.’ Genesis 28:12, 17
Neil
12th September 2025