Chapter

Together, all Chapter members are part of the faithful heart of the Cathedral. As charity trustees, they must ensure that all activities further the Chapter’s charitable objectives and provide public benefit. These objectives include;

to advance the Christian religion in accordance with the faith and practice of the Church of England
to care for and conserve the fabric and structure of the cathedral church building
to advance any other charitable purposes which are ancillary to the above objectives

The Chapter is regulated by the Charity Commission as well as by the Church Commissioners. All members of Chapter must comply with charity law as well as ecclesiastical law.

Chapter Members

Dean Joe Hawes | St Edmundsbury Cathedral

THE VERY REVEREND JOE HAWES
DEAN OF ST EDMUNDSBURY

The Dean was installed in July 2018 as the Dean of St Edmundsbury. He is a former Durham University graduate who studied theology at St Stephen’s House, Oxford. He serves on General Synod, representing the Deans, and is a trustee of USPG. The Dean, as the leading priest, has oversight of the spiritual and administrative life of the Cathedral Community.

THE REVEREND CANON MATTHEW VERNON
SUB DEAN AND CANON PASTOR

Canon Matthew was installed in February 2009 as Canon Pastor, having served for 8 years as a Chaplain at St John’s Cathedral in Hong Kong. He became Sub Dean in October 2012. He is Chair of the Diocesan Healing & Wholeness Group. He is also Chair of the Abbey of St Edmund Heritage partnership, which brings together the groups and people passionate about the Abbey area at the heart of Bury St Edmunds.

VENERABLE SALLY GAZE
ARCHDEACON FOR RURAL MISSION

The Revd Canon Sally Gaze was appointed to the post of the new Archdeacon for Rural Mission in February 2019. She has a rich experience of growing rural churches and a significant national profile for pioneering creative approaches to rural mission and ministry. Her role is to strengthen and develop church life in rural communities. It is about helping people to experience God’s love in rural Suffolk in all sorts of ways from creative worship to combatting isolation.

THE REVD DR VICTORIA JOHNSON
VISITING CANON THEOLOGIAN

Dr Johnson is a previous Canon Precentor of York Minster. Prior to ordination, Victoria worked as a Post-Doctoral Cancer Research Scientist at Manchester University after gaining a BSc and PhD in Biochemistry from Leicester University. She is currently a member of the Divinity Faculty of the University of Cambridge and specialises in homiletics and liturgy; mission theology and apologetics; science and religion; music and the arts. Her first book On voice: speech, song and silence, human and divine has recently been published.

MARK PENDLINGTON
SENIOR NON-EXECUTIVE MEMBER

Mark has been an active member of the Church of England for over 50 years, most recently as Chair of the St Edmundsbury & Ipswich Diocesan Board of Finance. He has extensive experience of working across the public and private sectors including in industry, national and regional voluntary organisations, further and higher education, economic development bodies, local enterprise partnerships, and academia, many with UK, EU and international dimensions. He is a Deputy Lieutenant of Suffolk and is High Sheriff of Suffolk (in nomination) for 2023/2024.

BARBARA PYCRAFT
(LAY MEMBER APPOINTED BY PAROCHIAL CHURCH COUNCIL)

Barbara is originally from Belfast, and was brought up in the Methodist tradition, (with its wonderful hymn tunes) before being confirmed into the Church of England at Manchester Cathedral, whilst at University there. Following a varied career as a Secondary School Teacher, Music Director, and Commercial Manager, she moved to Suffolk in 2008. As part of her Chapter role, Barbara sits on or chairs various committees, Communications, Safeguarding, Information Protection, Music and the Ancient Library.

TERRY STARK
(LAY MEMBER APPOINTED BY PAROCHIAL CHURCH COUNCIL)

Terry was born in Reading, Berkshire and moved here in 1993 where she worked in the Cathedral Office and became an active member of the congregation. She has been a member of the PCC and secretary of the local branch of the Children’s Society as well as secretary of the Friends of the Cathedral Choir. Terry has four children all of whom have been members of the Cathedral’s Choirs and has been involved in both the creche and as a Junior Church leader. She has been a deputy warden since May 2015.

Sue Hughes | St Edmundsbury Cathedral Chapter

SUE HUGHES
(NON-EXECUTIVE TRUSTEE)

Sue spent 27 years involved with criminal justice in the police and Magistrates’ Courts. More recently she has shifted her focus to health & social justice, serving as Lay member of the Suffolk Safeguarding Partnership, Board member of Healthwatch Suffolk and Independent Chair of two separate groups working together to make Suffolk a dementia friendly county. She is a member of the finance and nominations committees and Chapter Lead for social action & inclusion.

PAUL TORRINGTON
(FINANCE COMMITTEE CHAIR)

Paul was born in County Durham and read Modern Languages at St John’s College, Cambridge, where he also sang in the choir. He spent his career in the insurance industry, specialising in political risk and working mainly with French, German and Italian clients. He retired in 2021. Paul is involved with his local church, Holton St Mary where he sits on the PCC and acts as Churchwarden and Treasurer. He is a Governor of the Royal Hospital School and is a Trustee of Brass for Africa, a UK-registered charity working with highly disadvantaged young people in Uganda. He occasionally sings with the Cathedral Choir.

JAIME MELLOWS
CHAPTER TRUSTEE

Jaime moved from Essex to Suffolk in 2021. Having worked in property and estates management for over 30 years, he brings a wealth of experience in both public and private sectors. He has worked with a diverse range of organisations including the Crown and Grosvenor Estates, Harrods and the NHS. He volunteers his time with a number of heritage organisations assisting in the preservation of Churches and traditional construction skills.

JANE HAVILAND WEBSTER
CHAPTER TRUSTEE

Jane moved to Suffolk in 2016. Prior to becoming a solicitor, she spent 25 years as an Environmental Project Manager, using her qualifications in environmental science. Her project involvement includes the Millennium Dome, Legoland Windsor, Lahore Ring Road and offshore wind developments. She was Lay Chair of Hove Deanery, before moving to Suffolk. An experienced board member, Jane is committed to encouraging the journey towards carbon net zero.

SARAH-JANE ALLISON
CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER

IN ATTENDANCE

STEWART ALDERMAN
ENTERPRISES DIRECTOR

IN ATTENDANCE

Chapter Minutes

Chapter

Chapter Members

THE VERY REVEREND JOE HAWES DEAN OF ST EDMUNDSBURY

THE REVEREND CANON MATTHEW VERNON SUB DEAN AND CANON PASTOR

VENERABLE SALLY GAZE ARCHDEACON FOR RURAL MISSION

THE REVD DR VICTORIA JOHNSON VISITING CANON THEOLOGIAN

MARK PENDLINGTON SENIOR NON-EXECUTIVE MEMBER

BARBARA PYCRAFT (LAY MEMBER APPOINTED BY PAROCHIAL CHURCH COUNCIL)

TERRY STARK (LAY MEMBER APPOINTED BY PAROCHIAL CHURCH COUNCIL)

SUE HUGHES (NON-EXECUTIVE TRUSTEE)

PAUL TORRINGTON (FINANCE COMMITTEE CHAIR)

JAIME MELLOWS CHAPTER TRUSTEE

JANE HAVILAND WEBSTER CHAPTER TRUSTEE

SARAH-JANE ALLISON CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER

STEWART ALDERMAN ENTERPRISES DIRECTOR