Chapter, Council, Community
Chapter
Manchester Cathedral ministry and mission is overseen by the Chapter, which is a small group of people who are canons of the cathedral. They are the Dean, four residentiary canons who are ordained, and four lay canons. Chapter meets monthly, with other professionals who advise them on many practical matters such as finance, architecture and building maintenance, property investments, fundraising, etc.
Greater Chapter
Clergy and lay people can be come members of the cathedral 'Greater Chapter’ and as such are made honorary canons. The size of this greater chapter is limited by the number of seats in the cathedral quire! Greater Chapter meets a few times each year and honorary canons are part of the wider cathedral community.
Cathedral Council
The Cathedral Council met for the first time in 2008 and has a wide ranging membership representing various facets of Church, civic and community life in Greater Manchester. Its terms of office are three years and the Chair, a layperson, is appointed by the bishop and is currently Mrs Elaine Griffiths MBE.
From the Cathedral Statutes:
The duty of the Cathedral Council is to further and support the work of the cathedral in its spiritual, pastoral, evangelistic, social and ecumenical work. It is required to advise upon the direction and oversight of this work by the Chapter and in particular, without prejudice to the generality of the foregoing, to:
a) consider proposals submitted by the Chapter in connection with the general direction and mission of the cathedral and to give advice on them to the Dean and Chapter;
b) receive and consider the annual budget of the cathedral;
c) receive and consider the annual report and audited accounts
d) consider proposals submitted by the Chapter in connection with Constitution and Statutes of the Cathedral with a view to their revision.
The Council may:
1. request reports from the Chapter on any matter concerning the Cathedral
2. discuss and declare its opinion on any such matter, and
3. draw any matter to the attention of the Visitor or the Church Commissioners.
Members of the Cathedral Council, May 2010 Elaine Griffiths (Chair)
Dean Rogers Govender
Andrew Shanks
Robert Hough
Eamonn Boylan
Valerie Hart
Bishop Dr Doye Teido Agama
Keith Davies
Sue Murphy
Andrew Stokes
John Acaster
Marlene Armitage
Steve Buxton
Graham Curtis
Barbara Evans
David Howe
Peter McEvitt
Peter Mellor
Geoffrey Tattersall
Roy Walters
Barrie Cheshire
Chair of Cathedral Council
Elaine Griffiths is co-founder of the Charitable Trust that raised the £6.5million to save and restore Gorton Monastery and found a sustainable new use for the future of this previously endangered World Monument site. Elaine is currently Chief Executive of the Monastery Manchester, the social enterprise company that now operates the restored heritage site as a corporate, cultural and community venue.
The experience of delivering the Monastery project over the past 12 years have turned Elaine into a passionate advocate for community, heritage and spiritually led regeneration. Elaine was awarded an MBE for services to heritage in 2007.
Elaine is also on the Advisory Board for the Global Links Initiative (GLI ) which networks and links grassroots community and charitable projects to share best practise across the world.
For over 25 years Elaine's professional career was in the Food Industry where she held senior positions before establishing her own successful sales and marketing consultancy. As Manchester changes around us, Elaine sees the work of the Cathedral playing an increasingly important role in the life of the city.
Cathedral Community Committee
This committee meets a few times each year as a representative group bringing matters from the cathedral community and congregations to the attention of Chapter and clergy.
