Chapter, Council, Community

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 Mr Warren J. Smith KStJ JP DLitt LLD.

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. 

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.