New Dean of Canterbury Announced

We are delighted to announce that Her Late Majesty The Queen approved the nomination of The Very Reverend Dr David Monteith, Dean of Leicester, for election as Dean of Canterbury.

David has overseen significant development and growth at Leicester, enabling the cathedral to become ‘a beating heart’ for one of the most diverse cities and counties in England. This ministry has included the re-interment of King Richard III, and the current major redevelopment project, ‘Leicester Cathedral Revealed’, which secures and equips the cathedral for worship, witness and welcome for the next 100 years. David currently chairs the College of Deans for the Church of England.

Commenting on his new appointment, Dean David said:

“I am overjoyed and humbled to be entrusted with this opportunity for learning and service. Canterbury Cathedral has played a vital part in our Christian story in England but it is also much loved by so many communities across the Anglican Communion. So I already can see there is much to steward and much to imagine anew as our context reshapes. I have been a priest for many years but I also bring my experience of growing up in the Church of Ireland during the Northern Irish ‘Troubles’.

“I’m looking forward to working with Archbishop Justin, Bishop Rose, the Cathedral Chapter and her communities to ensure our worship inspires, our prayer undergirds, our outreach transforms us and others, and our witness reveals more of God’s expansive Kingdom of love, mercy and peace.  I hope hospitality in the name of Jesus Christ and profound openness to the entire wider community will mark all we offer especially as we face this challenging time of rising costs and human hardship.

“My partner, David, and I have had a place in Whitstable for over 20 years and so we already know Kent well. We are both looking forward to getting to know further the varied communities of the county as well as getting to the seaside more often.”

Click here to watch Dean David’s welcome message

The Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby said:

“I’m delighted by David’s appointment as Dean of Canterbury. He has been an exceptional Dean of Leicester – and his deep faith and spirituality, creativity, and profound sense of service will be a gift to Canterbury Cathedral and all the communities it serves.

“This is a time of hardship, suffering and anxiety for many in this country and worldwide. For over 1,400 years Canterbury Cathedral has been a house of prayer where God is worshipped, the good news of Jesus Christ is proclaimed, and the Holy Spirit fills our hearts with love that overflows to the world around us. I am sure that David will build on the extraordinary ministry of Dean Robert, and continue to develop this in new ways for our twenty-first century world.

“We will benefit greatly from David’s experience and perspective, not least from his work in helping diverse faiths and cultural communities to live well together. I share his vision of a Canterbury Cathedral that blesses and serves the people of Canterbury, the Church of England and the global Anglican Communion. I look forward to working with David and I join many in praying for him over the coming months.”

The Rt Revd Rose Hudson-Wilkin, Bishop of Dover said:

“It is a delight to welcome David to Canterbury. During his time as Dean of Leicester, David has shown himself to be a person of deep faith and vision, creative and collegiate in his approach. We’re looking forward to having David as part of our diocesan family, and excited for all that he will bring to our mission and ministry in Canterbury and beyond.”

The Rt Revd Martyn Snow, Bishop of Leicester said:

“David has exercised a long and distinguished ministry in Leicester. Most notably he oversaw the re-interment of King Richard III which transformed a small cathedral into a major tourist destination. He has played an active role in interfaith work in the city and chaired a Rural Commission which helped us re-examine the way we support rural churches and communities. He will be greatly missed by the diocese, but he goes with our love and prayers.”

The Very Revd Jane Hedges, Acting Dean of Canterbury said:

“We, as members of the Cathedral Chapter are delighted to receive the news of the appointment of the Very Revd David Monteith as our new Dean here at Canterbury. David will bring a huge range of skills and experience with him as well as a passion for building up the life of the Cathedral and enabling it to live out the gospel and reach out to the wider world. We very much look forward to working with David, together serving the life of our city and county and, in partnership with Archbishop Justin and Bishop Rose, supporting the clergy and people of our diocese and of the Anglican Communion.

“David and his partner David can be assured of a very warm welcome when he is installed as Dean of Canterbury in December.”

David was curate in Kings Heath, Birmingham before becoming Associate Vicar at St Martin-in-the-Fields, London. He then served in South Wimbledon, forming the Merton Priory Team Ministry in Southwark Diocese and he was Area Dean of Merton. He first served in Leicester as Canon Chancellor and then as Acting Archdeacon of Leicester before becoming Dean in 2013. Ministry in Leicester beyond the cathedral has included chairing the St Philip’s Centre helping diverse faiths and cultural communities to live well together, and chairing the Bishop’s Rural Commission entitled ‘Deep wells and green pastures’.

David shares his life in a Civil Partnership with David Hamilton, a counselling therapist working in palliative and bereavement care.

David will be installed as Dean of Canterbury at a service in Canterbury Cathedral on Saturday 17 December at 15.00.