Four new Honorary Canons appointed

Four new Honorary Canons of Norwich Cathedral have been appointed by the Bishop of Norwich, the Rt Revd Graham Usher. The new Honorary Canons are the Revd Julie Boyd, the Revd Catherine Dobson, the Revd Susanna Gunner and the Revd Christian Heycocks.

The Cathedral has 24 Honorary Canons who, together with 12 Lay Canons, the Archdeacons and Suffragan Bishops, make up the College of Canons. This body meets three times a year to worship together, to receive reports from the Dean and Chapter and to think together about the ways in which the Cathedral can contribute the wider mission of our Diocese.

Bishop Graham said: "It is a great delight to be able to appoint Julie Boyd, Catherine Dobson, Susanna Gunner and Christian Heycocks as Honorary Canons of Norwich Cathedral.

"Each of these priests have given and continue to give outstanding service to the church in our Diocese. They will be great ambassadors for the Cathedral in the Diocese and vice versa."

They will be installed at Choral Evensong on Sunday 16 February at 3.30pm at Norwich Cathedral and all are welcome at the service.

Speaking about the appointments, the Very Revd Jane Hedges, Dean of Norwich said: "The Chapter regards the College of Canons as critical friends and ambassadors for the Cathedral and we value their role very highly. We are delighted with the appointment of our four new Canons and believe they will bring a huge range of gifts and skills to the College."

The Revd Julie Boyd is Team Rector of the Gaywood benefice in King’s Lynn.

She said: "To receive an invitation to become an Honorary Canon of Norwich Cathedral and to join the College of Canons has been quite overwhelming and very exciting.

"Being connected to the Cathedral as the mother church in the Diocese has always been very important to me and so now, within this new role as Honorary Canon, I am very much looking forward to strengthening that fellowship and being more involved in helping the Cathedral fulfil its mission and serve the people of the Diocese.

"I look forward to learning more about the role of the College of Canons and hope in time to be an encouragement to the people of the parish of Gaywood and within the Lynn Deanery as I play my part as an ambassador for the Cathedral and as a voice from Gaywood.

"Despite the geography that separates the Cathedral from our churches in the west, we are all one family and it is really important for us all to acknowledge that we belong together and so to take interest in the whole body of Christ in this Diocese. I am very excited by this new opportunity to help grow these connections and I am very grateful to be invited into the life of the Cathedral in this way."

The Revd Catherine Dobson is Rector of the Coastal Group of Parishes on the North Norfolk coast which includes Happisburgh, Bacton, Sea Palling and more. She is also Rural Dean for St Benet at Waxham and Tunstead Deanery.

The Revd Susanna Gunner is currently Chaplain to the Bishop of Norwich, but steps down from the role following Bishop Graham’s enthronement on 9 November to become Spirituality and Discipleship Adviser for the Diocese.

She said: "I was so delighted to receive this news. It will be an honour and a pleasure to be part of the Cathedral’s College of Canons and to work alongside the Dean and Chapter in this additional way."

The Revd Christian Heycocks is Vicar of St Peter’s Church in Sheringham as well as Rural Dean for Repps Deanery and Chaplain to both Sheringham Little Theatre and the Royal British Legion in Sheringham.

He said: "It’s a great privilege to be invited to become an Honorary Canon of Norwich Cathedral and to have the opportunity to further support the ministry and mission of the Cathedral within the Diocese and further afield as a member of the College of Canons.

"I have thoroughly enjoyed over a decade of ministry in Sheringham, the Deanery of Repps and in the Diocese as a whole and now particularly look forward to being an active enabler and facilitator on behalf of both the Cathedral and the people of North Norfolk as we continue to encounter and explore God’s love for us all."

Picture: Diocese of Norwich