A South Lakeland vicar has been announced as the 42nd dean of Carlisle Cathedral.
The Rev Canon Jonathan Brewster – currently Cartmel Peninsula mission community leader and interim team vicar in the parishes of Haverthwaite, Finsthwaite and Staveley in Cartmel, and associate priest in the parishes of St Paul Grange-over-Sands and Field Broughton with Lindale – will take up the post in September.
The announcement was made this morning by Downing Street after the King approved the appointment. It follows the retirement of the Very Rev Mark Boyling as Dean last September.
Jonathan, 56, said: “I am thrilled to be announced as the new dean and very much look forward to working alongside the Cathedral’s chapter, staff and volunteers and colleagues in the wider diocese.
“Cumbria is a place that I know very well. Since being a child, I’ve holidayed here every year, and it’s been a particular privilege to work in the diocese for the last 18 months, getting to know the villages and town that make up the Cartmel Peninsula. I’ve greatly valued the friendships made and seen at first-hand the importance of local identity in the working out of mission communities.
“I’m very conscious that the cathedral community has been through an extremely busy few years, with the Fratry project, the 900th anniversary celebrations and the impact of the COVID pandemic.
“I pay tribute to the former dean for his great contribution in leading the cathedral through this challenging time. The cathedral will need time to give thanks and take stock before discerning where God may be leading next, while also connecting with the many exciting things happening in and around Carlisle.
“The city is to have a redeveloped railway station, the University of Cumbria and Imperial College London are working together to launch a new graduate entry medical school in Carlisle and the University is also redeveloping the Citadel city centre site and land close to the cathedral. All of these will offer up new opportunities by which we can connect further with new communities.”
He comes to the post having served in the Cartmel Peninsula Team for nearly two years after moving to the Diocese of Carlisle in September 2021.
Jonathan is married to Sarah and they have four children, an older son and daughter who have left home and two teenage daughters.
The Rt Rev James Newcome, Bishop of Carlisle, said: “I am delighted that Jonathan has been appointed Dean of Carlisle. He brings to the post proven mission-focused skills and a huge experience of working within a cathedral setting having been canon treasurer at St Paul’s Cathedral with oversight of a multi-million-pound budget.
Prior to taking up the post, Jonathan will continue to liaise closely with the interim dean of the cathedral, the Rev Canon Michael Manley who is also canon missioner.
Michael said: “On behalf of the whole Cathedral chapter, staff, volunteers, and worshipping community, we are delighted to welcome Jonathan as our new Dean.
“We all very much look forward to working together to continue to see God’s Kingdom grow here in the city of Carlisle and, indeed, across the whole of the Diocese through our numerous outreach projects. Our prayers will be with him, Sarah and their family ahead of the move to the Cathedral precinct.”
Jonathan will be installed as the 42nd Dean of Carlisle at a service at Carlisle Cathedral on Saturday September 30 at 3pm.
He will be attending Evensong at the Cathedral today, Wednesday June 28 at 5.45pm and all are welcome to attend.
