Cathedral Chapter
Contact the Chapter on 0161 833 2220.
The Dean
The Very Revd Rogers Govender dean@manchestercathedral.org
Born in Durban, South Africa; married to Celia; two children; ordained in the Diocese of Natal in 1985; Served as Vicar of various parishes in Durban and Pietermaritzburg for 15 years before moving to Manchester as Vicar of West Didsbury at the end of 2000; Area Dean of Withington (South Manchester); Dean of Manchester since January 2006.
Interests include reading, listening to all types of music, fishing and cooking.
Canon Theologian
The Revd Canon Andrew Shanks canon.shanks@manchestercathedral.org
Andrew Shanks is the Canon Theologian, in charge of the Cathedral’s educational programme. He has been at Manchester Cathedral since 2004. Previously he worked as a parish priest in Leeds, an inner city parish and a housing estate, and in rural North Yorkshire; and as an academic theologian at the universities of Lancaster and Leeds.
He has also lived and worked in Ethiopia and in Upper Egypt. His published books include Hegel’s Political Theology (1991), Civil Society, Civil Religion (1995), God and Modernity (2000), “What Is Truth?” Towards a Theological Poetics (2001), Faith in Honesty (2005), The Other Calling (2007), Against Innocence: Gillian Rose’s Reception and Gift of Faith (2008). He is married to Dian Leppington, who is also a priest.
Canon Precentor
The Revd Canon Gilly Myers canon.precentor@manchestercathedral.org
Canon Gilly Myers has been the Canon Precentor at Manchester Cathedral since March 2008, and her primary area of responsibility, as a Chapter Member, is in liturgy and worship. In addition to the regular round of daily and weekly Cathedral services, a wide range of special services take place from week to week and, in December, as Christmas approaches on an almost daily basis.
Most acts of worship are a result of teamwork, and there is a lively team of musicians, admin staff, vergers, servers, stewards and lay participants who work alongside Gilly and the other clergy to bring it all together.
Prior to her move to Manchester, Gilly was Succentor at Durham Cathedral for five and a half years and, before that, was priest in charge of a UPA parish in Nottingham, the city where she also undertook two curacies, and trained for ordination.
Gilly is convenor of the Bishop of Manchester's Advisory Group on Liturgy and Worship, the editor of Praxis News of Worship and an observer on the Church of England's Liturgical Commission.
Canon Evangelist
The Revd Canon Tony Hardy canon.evangelist@manchestercathedral.org Tel: 0161 438 2834.
As Canon Evangelist Tony Hardy works to encourage and resource evangelism at the cathedral and across the Diocese of Manchester.
Tony grew up in Burnage, South Manchester, taught design and technology until 1986 when he was sponsored by Manchester Diocese for training as a clergyman. He was ordained at Manchester Cathedral. His curacy was at Christ Church Pennington followed by nine years as vicar of St Luke, Eccleston in Liverpool Diocese. In 2000 Tony began a joint role as Liverpool Diocesan Evangelist and North West Regional Consultant for the Church Pastoral Aid Society. In 2005 with friends in Stockport he pioneered a 'Fresh Expression' of church called C3 Stockport with a mission to gather people around creative activity. http://c3stockport.net/. He has an interest in digital culture and in how to release creativity in people. He is an associate missioner for Fresh Expressions.
Tony is married to Helen and they have three sons. He was once a qualified snooker referee, makes stained glass windows, is an amateur classical guitarist, photographer and DIY enthusiast!
Archdeacon of Manchester & Residentiary Canon
The Ven Mark Ashcroft archmanchester@manchester.anglican.org
Mark Ashcroft is Archdeacon of Manchester & Residentiary Canon.
Canon Barrie Cheshire
Following a chemistry degree Barrie entered the teaching profession, eventually becoming Vice Principal of a Sixth Form College in Ashton-U-Lyne. He took early retirement from teaching in order to follow his love of music and singing in particular.
Barrie joined the cathedral as tenor lay clerk and sung in the choir for 11 years. He is now an active member of the cathedral congregation. In 2008 he was elected to the Cathedral Chapter as a lay member, and, at the invitation of the Bishop, was installed as lay canon in 2009.
On chapter Barrie takes a keen interest in musical matters, and matters relating to the Cathedral community in its widest sense. He finds Manchester Cathedral to be a welcoming community, and strives to develop this further to the benefit of Manchester and the Diocese.
Canon Jennifer Curtis
Jennifer is an archetypal working mother; she juggles full-time job and family and then tries to fit in some leisure interests. A scientist by training she is a librarian at The University of Manchester, dealing with systems and digital images rather than books. A steward and former member of the Cathedral Community Committee, Jennifer is an active member of the regular worshipping Cathedral congregation. On Chapter she aims to contribute a practical, "consumer view" to help ensure that the Cathedral develops its position as a vibrant, welcoming spiritual centre for Manchester and its diocese, without losing sight of its heritage responsibilities and traditions.
Canon David Howe
David was born in Gorton and sang at St Philip’s Church before joining the Cathedral Voluntary Choir in 1949. In 1962, the year he married Joan, he became a Sidesman and subsequently a Church Warden. In 2003 he was elected as one of the first Lay Canons.
David is a Chartered Electrical Engineer and Consulting Forensic Engineer. He has a history of public service as a Scout Master, Magistrate, member of the Round Table and is currently a Rotarian in Warrington. He is a member of Sale Rugby Club. His other interests are family history research, travel, food and wine.
Canon Mike Evans
Mike moved with his family from London to Manchester in 1984 on his appointment to establish a new school in the inner-city and lead and manage its development as Head into a beacon of good practice in the North West. Now retired, he remained at Trinity Church of England High School for 22 years, enjoying every moment of challenge and opportunity and relishing the chance to shape an inclusive school, driven by faith but multi faith (rather than narrowly denominational) in character, that celebrated life and human fulfilment, which educated rather than schooled its students and that made a real difference to Hulme and Moss Side and to the life chances of young people from across the city.
Active in Diocesan affairs, Mike has been a Licensed Reader since 1968, and is based in the Parish of Christ Church West Didsbury. He Chairs the charity CARISMA (Community Alliance for Renewal, Inner South Manchester Area) and the Cathedral’s Development Group, involving himself in the many aspects of the Cathedral’s immediate physical environment. He keeps fit enough in the gym to ensure his continued ability to ski and he actively supports MU, Sale Sharks and many aspects of the Performing and Fine Arts. Married to Jill, they have two married children and two grand-children and happily commute between Manchester, London and Lausanne to be in touch with them in a way that cannot be fulfilled by Skype!
