Three new Canons for Norwich Cathedral

An expert on Julian of Norwich, the diocese director of mission and ministry, and a rector and rural dean are to become canons of Norwich Cathedral.

They will be welcomed at Evensong at 5.30pm on Tuesday 14 October.

Click the button below to watch the live stream of the service.

Dr Claire Gilbert will be installed as a lay canon of the cathedral. She is a theologian, author and retreat leader and writes and speaks about medical and environmental ethics and spirituality in politics and public life. Her writing about Julian of Norwich includes the book I, Julian which reconstructs the life of the first woman to write a book in the English language.

It takes readers through the loss of a father, husband and child as plague rages, and the visions which comfort her as she falls ill herself. As a 14th century woman, telling her story from an anchorage alongside St Julian’s church in Norwich, she risks condemnation as a heretic.

Former Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams called the book “A brilliantly illuminating companion to one of the greatest works of spiritual writing in English.”

Claire first came across Julian of Norwich when she studied her as part of a theology degree at Oxford University. “She was a shining star in an otherwise dull degree and I’ve stayed in love with her ever since,” said Claire.

She said she was honoured and delighted when asked to become a lay canon of Norwich Cathedral.

“I first visited when I was touring cathedrals in my gap year; my father said cathedrals are one of the reasons the country holds together. Norwich was and remains one of my favourites.”

As a lay canon she said she will be glad to help in any way, “Especially drawing on my experience of running institutes in both Westminster Abbey and St Paul’s Cathedral.”

“Perhaps I will have the chance to talk more about Julian.”

Claire was the founding director of the Westminster Abbey Institute, which aims to nurture and revitalise moral and spiritual values in public life and service. She was a national policy adviser to the Church of England on medical ethics and environmental ethics, and a lay canon of St Paul’s Cathedral where she co-founded St Paul’s Institute for ethics in finance and business.

Asked what she would love everyone to know about Julian she said: “That she does not try to organise God. That her writings are beautiful and transformative. That she teaches us to be porous to God and to our world.”

The Revd Richard Lamey who is director of mission and ministry for the Diocese of Norwich, will be installed as an honorary canon. He supports clergy and lay leaders across the diocese and encourages discipleship and vocations. He said:

“I was really humbled to receive Bishop Graham's invitation and honoured to accept. I have had the most amazing time ever since I came to work in the Diocese and moved to Norwich. I am relishing working with amazing people, getting out and about to see what is happening all across the Diocese and helping us all to listen to what God is calling us to be as disciples and pilgrims.”

He fell in love with Norwich Cathedral when he moved to the diocese and said: “I take midweek services in the Cathedral every month so I am looking I am looking forward to deepening my relationship with and my love for a building and community I find it very easy to pray in and which has made me so welcome.

“It is a particularly happy and friendly Cathedral. I will also be excited to be able to contribute as an Honorary Canon to the excellent relationship between the Diocese and our Mother Church, as a member of the Parish Support Team and as I travel round the Diocese Sunday by Sunday.”

The Revd Martin Greenland has been Rector of Acle for 17 years and Rector of the Acle and Bure to Yare Benefice for the past decade. He is also Rural Dean of Blofield and will become an honorary canon of Norwich Cathedral.

Recognised for his diligence across a rural multi-parish benefice and deanery he said: “I'm grateful for the recognition of the grassroots ministry in parishes and deanery I share with many others: seeking to serve God and neighbour in our local communities”

He arrived in Acle having previously served in the dioceses of York and Sheffield and said: “With a lifelong interest in nature, I imagined Norfolk would be a county I could enjoy living in - and so it has proved.”

As a cathedral canon he hopes to represent the parishes to the cathedral and the cathedral to the parishes.

The Bishop of Norwich, the Rt Revd Graham Usher, and the Dean of Norwich the Very Revd Dr Andrew Braddock, both said they were delighted to welcome the new canons.

Bishop Graham said: “The two new honorary canons Revd Richard Lamey and Revd Martin Greenland, have made, and continue to make, a significant contribution to the life of the diocese. And Claire Gilbert, the new lay canon brings an impressive range of experience in policy and ethics and as well as her deep interest in Mother Julian.”

The Dean said: “Martin and Richard strengthen the cathedral’s links with ministry across the diocese, enhancing its role as mother church across Norfolk and Waveney. Claire not only brings a rich appreciation of Julian of Norwich, but also extensive experience of the role cathedrals can play in education and shaping public debate. I look forward to working with them all.”

The 24 ordained honorary canons and 12 lay canons of Norwich Cathedral, together with the archdeacons and suffragan bishops, make up the College of Canons. It meets three times a year for members to worship together, receive reports from the Dean and Chapter and come up with ways in which the cathedral can contribute to the wider mission of the diocese and work with the diocese to serve the people of Norfolk and Waveney.

Pictures: Bill Smith/Hodder and Stoughton/Kati Cowen