The new Dean of Chester, the Revd Dr Tim Stratford, will be installed at Chester Cathedral on Saturday at a special service of welcome. Hundreds of well-wishers are expected to attend the service, which is due to begin at 2.30pm.
During the service, the Dean will be presented to the Bishop of Chester and the “Royal Letters Patent” will be read aloud. This document expresses both the approval and authorisation of HM The Queen for the new Dean to take up what is constitutionally a Crown appointment.
Tim is the former Archdeacon of Leicester and a highly experienced and respected priest. He grew up in Liverpool and has a strong connection to the North West. He studied theology at Oxford and was ordained in 1986. He has significant experience of city and cathedral ministry from his time in the Diocese of Liverpool. He has worked on some of Liverpool’s largest estates during his time as Rector of Kirkby and as a vicar in Norris Green. He has significant experience of urban and rural communities, diverse cultures and faith traditions gained while working in the Diocese of Leicester.
Speaking earlier in the year at the time of his announcement, Tim said: “I am delighted to be joining the Cathedral and Diocese as Dean of Chester. When I was growing up in Liverpool, Chester was the historic city “over the water” where we could go for a treat and a day out. The opportunity to get to know the City and County of Cheshire from the inside and to make a difference will be a privilege.”
Admission to the service is by ticket only.
