On Sunday 28th April we celebrated the Collation and Installation of 33 new Honorary and Lay Canons.
The College of Canons are a group of clergy and lay people who have been recognised by the Bishop as people who have given distinguished service to the Diocese or to the Church of England. Clergy Canons have right to wear the coat of arms of the Diocese on their preaching scarf, Lay Canons wear an academic gown edged with light blue bearing the cost of arms of the Diocese.
During the service we also welcomed our new Chief Operating Officer, Justine Horseman Sewell, and Dr Elizabeth Henry, our new Senior Non-Executive Member of the Cathedral Chapter.
As the Non-Executive Member of the Cathedral Chapter (SNEM) Dr Henry will help advise the Cathedral Chapter, the body that is responsible for all aspects of strategic leadership and governance of the Cathedral. The SNEM acts as Vice-Chair of Chapter and also has the particular role of being a critical friend, providing support and advice to the Dean in his or her role as chair of Chapter. Dr Henry was formerly the National Advisor on Race and Ethnicity for the Church of England, and was also the Chief Executive of UK Charity ‘Race on the Agenda’ (ROTA).
Justine Horseman Sewell was previously the Chief Operating Officer at Southwark Cathedral where she has led the commercial and operational functions and resources since 2021 Justine brings with her a depth of governance knowledge, as well as long experience in creating visitor engagement and creative commercial opportunities in the cathedral context. She completed the Chelmsford Diocese two-year Course in Christian Studies (Bishop’s Certificate) in 2021 continues to sing in local choirs and in cathedrals with the Prometheus Consort.
