Press release from the Diocese of St Edmundsbury and Ipswich
Joe Hawes, currently Vicar of All Saints’ Fulham, is to be the next Dean of St Edmundsbury, in the diocese of St Edmundsbury and Ipswich.
A priest who substantially increased the number of families and young people worshipping at the major London parish he leads has been chosen as the new Dean of St Edmundsbury.
The Revd Canon Joe Hawes, Vicar of All Saints’ Fulham, who enjoys scuba-diving in his leisure time, will start his new senior role during the summer.
Bishop Martin, said there had been a strong field of applicants with more candidates than usual for a Dean’s post.
“I am delighted that it was a unanimous decision to appoint Joe. He is an outstanding and Godly priest. He is warm, engaging, caring and fun. He brings energy and wisdom, and a huge amount of experience in parish ministry.
“He has been Vicar of All Saints’ in Fulham for 15 years, and increased the regular congregation by 25% to more than 500 each Sunday, with a particular ministry with families and young people.
“In Fulham he has developed worship to be engaging and accessible for people of different backgrounds and ages, and a church looking outwards, engaged in loving service with those in need.
“He has strong leadership and organisational skills, sees the cathedral as serving the whole county, not just Bury St Edmunds, and I look forward to working with him across the county for the greater good.”
Roger Wright, Chief Executive of Aldeburgh Music, who was appointed by the Archbishop of Canterbury to lead the process of finding a new Dean, said: “It was a pleasure and privilege to chair the panel for this appointment.
“His considerable experience, and his warm and engaging personality will help the cathedral be a beacon of hope for Suffolk as it broadens its appeal to all.
“Joe will be strong and thoughtful leader in this new period of the life of the cathedral and we very much look forward to his presence in the diocese.”
Canon Joe’s parish of All Saints’ Fulham has been developing its broadcasting profile, the Christmas Day the service was live on BBC1, and Palm Sunday Morning worship will be broadcast on Radio 4 on 25 March.
Canon Joe, who will become one of the most senior Church of England figures in Suffolk, said: “I am really looking forward to getting to know the people of Suffolk and to taking my place among the Bishop’s Staff.
“I am keen to see even more people discover the beauty of the cathedral. We need to build our financial reserves so that we can further develop our excellence within music, worship, learning and care to the highest possible standards.
“We need to provide a place which is both sanctuary in an uncertain world, and also a forum for debate and reflection on the major questions which are challenging us as a society at the moment.”
Canon Joe, 52, is in a civil partnership with the Revd Chris Eyden, the vicar of All Saints’ Putney, who will remain serving in Putney for the time being.
Bishop Martin said he is looking forward to welcoming Joe, and Chris when he is able to be in the county.
Canon Joe will be installed as the Dean of St Edmundsbury in the Cathedral on Saturday 14 July.
The Rt Revd Graeme Knowles, acting Dean of St Edmundsbury Cathedral, said: “The Cathedral Chapter are delighted at Joe’s appointment. He will bring many gifts, experience and skills from his present ministry in Fulham.
“Joe will be joining the cathedral at a time when our vision and strategy is taking shape, therefore he will be able to contribute greatly to our future plans for the cathedral, town of Bury St Edmunds and county of Suffolk.”
Outstanding
“Roger Wright, Chief Executive of Aldeburgh Music, who was appointed by the Archbishop of Canterbury to lead the process of finding a new Dean, said…” What? What on earth has the appointment of the Dean of St Edmundsbury got to do with the Archbishop of Canterbury? Not content with causing a diplomatic spat in Istanbul during the past fortnight, is he now big-footing in the appointment of Deans outside his own Diocese? By the way, I thought the decanal appointments to ‘parish church’ cathedrals was in the gift of the Diocesan bishop? Above all, wonderful news for Joe Hawes and… Read more »
Michael Mulhern: there are two groups of cathedrals and deans — those where the Dean is a Crown appointment, and those where the Dean is the title of the incumbent of the parish whose parish church is the cathedral church. Of the latter, most have the diocesan bishop as the patron of the living, and a couple (Bradford and Sheffield — are there any others) have another patron, in both cases the Simeon Trustees, I think. But the process is broadly the same. An appointment panel is charged with the task. For the Crown appointments the Prime Minister appoints a… Read more »
Is this the first time that the announcement of an appointment to a ‘dignitary’ post has referred to a civil partnership?
Brilliant appointment. Congratulations to Joe – we will miss you in Hammersmith and Fulham!
I can’t see anyone complaining with utter passion about the inappropriateness of this announcement talking about the family. It becomes a problem only when someone in a heterosexual relationship drag the family in?
Probably Peter Kettle, though other Deans are civilly partnered. One wonders if a deanery is the current “glass ceiling”?
It sounds an excellent appointment and his record at Fulham shows growth can come in liberal catholic parishes too.
“I can’t see anyone complaining with utter passion about the inappropriateness of this announcement talking about the family. It becomes a problem only when someone in a heterosexual relationship drag the family in?”
The situations are not parallel. It is not about mentioning family, or whether someone is in a homosexual or heterosexual relationship, but about parading marriage, specifically marriage, when that is denied to lesbian and gay partners.
It is about trying for some kind of equality B. Thomas – however belated.
The partner is being left hundreds of miles away though, and little else is said of him.
It is a start though.
“It becomes a problem only when someone in a heterosexual relationship drag the family in?”
It’s not heterosexuals who are the oppressed minority Benny Thomas. When LGBT people are no longer oppressed then complain. Till then, check your privilege.
Perhaps some research into the purpose of positive discrimination and the bias of ‘balance’ would be appropriate.
One wonders if a deanery is the current “glass ceiling”?
Posted by: Perry Butler on Thursday, 15 March 2018 at 5:04pm GMT
Not exactly – the Bishop of Grantham is in a civil partnership.
The situations are not parallel. It is not about mentioning family, or whether someone is in a homosexual or heterosexual relationship, but about parading marriage.
Posted by: Kate on Thursday, 15 March 2018 at 5:44pm GMT
How can a family with a heterosexual partnership mention ‘family’ without implying marriage?!
Bradford Cathedral deans are appointed alternately by the Simeon Trust and the Crown. At least they used to be when I was on the staff there a long time ago, and patronage tends not to change very much.
If we agree that person’s domestic arrangements are not a relevant detail to their church job appointment this applies to everyone. But it not clear to me why mention of one person’s domestic arrangements is ‘flaunting’ or ‘parading’ while for another it simply a matter of offering personal information.
Congratulations to Joe! It is great to see a liberal catholic with a track record of church growth.
Scarcely *hundreds* of miles away, Laurie. The distance by road from Putney to Bury St Edmunds is 94 miles. Separated yes, but let’s not exaggerate.
“But it not clear to me why mention of one person’s domestic arrangements is ‘flaunting’ or ‘parading’ while for another it simply a matter of offering personal information.”@David Runcorn David, as Kate said, above, it’s about ‘marriage’. Why one is parading and one isn’t could be explained thus: At present according to the C of E, heterosexual clergy are at liberty to marry, non-heterosexual clergy are not. Historically the C of E has fought tooth and claw against equal marriage (and though conveniently forgotten now, civil partnerships too). The relationship of C of E, historical and current, to LGBT people… Read more »
‘Scarcely *hundreds* of miles away, Laurie. The distance by road from Putney to Bury St Edmunds is 94 miles. Separated yes, but let’s not exaggerate.’ RPNewark
Couples usually live TOGETHER in my experience, not 95 miles apart from each other.
That was, in fact, my point, relational rather than geographical ! RPNewark. It is about feelings – not something anglicans do much -I know.
Opposite gender couples tend not to be expected to live 95 miles apart.
(I await a chorus of aggrieved straight couples who have don so much –and more for the the Church now!).
You could hardly have been clearer, or put that better, Fr. Andrew. Thank you.
Laurie, they are not living apart because of their relationship, Chris is staying in Putney for the time being because that is where he works. Chris is the Vicar of All Saints’, Putney. Joe is the Vicar of All Saints’, Fulham. They are two close (possibly neighbouring) parishes. Joe has been appointed to a post 94 miles away. In this situation, for *any* couple, regardless of their genders and/or sexualities, to stay living in the same house would be problematic. The phrase “for the time being” in the announcement indicates to me that it is only a matter of time… Read more »
Some years ago, when I was living in Clapham, a group of us had the mad idea to have an all night vigil for Epiphany in an essentially low evangelical church. Joe was a curate locally and was the person who came to lead the hour at 3:00am or 4:00am. I remember that he woke us up and inspired us in the darkest hours of the night. Some of us are following the “Light of the world” theme through Lent. This announcement brings back memories of that reality, when it came alive, when I was pretty much as tired as… Read more »
Thanks Kate, for clarifying your stand. I look forward to seeing future appointment blurbs without parading marriage but just saying A is in a relationship with or A is living with B, or partnered with etc. I am glad that you found the details of this announcement ‘relevant to the job.’ Happy times
Fr Andrew, Thank you but I wholly get that it is about marriage. I too want a different church and society in this respect. I recognise issues of sensitivity and privilege. We are on the same page. But until that day I do not accept or find helpful to dismiss any public reference to heterosexual marriage in this context as ‘parading’ or ‘flaunting’.
It is extremely common for dual career couples to live in two places sometimes even in different continents. But what this announcement underlines for me is that, despite all the good intentions of the diocese in telegraphing its tolerance, it would be much better if all that personal (and almost prurient) stuff were omitted altogether. I’m with David Runcorn’s first sentence: please can this all stop. Not only do same- and opposite- sex couples deserve non-discriminatory treatment, but also partnered and single people, of whatever gender and orientation.
“I do not accept or find helpful to dismiss any public reference to heterosexual marriage in this context as ‘parading’ or ‘flaunting’.” I know people prefer us to be well behaved and unassertive, but you have to allow us some polemical language now and then. For those of who have had to suffer a lifetime of homophobia from the church, it’s *extremely* helpful to hear it. Please bear that in mind. When a heterosexual couple kiss in public they’re very much in love: when a non-heterosexual couple do they’re flaunting their non-heterosexuality and parading their perversion. I can’t tell you… Read more »
Fr Andrew,
No I don’t prefer you to be well behaved. You do not know me. I get angry too when i see and hear what you describe – but I agree I am not in the front line as you are. ‘You have to allow us some polemical language now and then’. Well OK – but at least aim it at those who actually deserve it and not those here who care and trying to work to make a difference.
” One wonders if a deanery is the current “glass ceiling”? @ Perry Butler. What short memories we have after the furore surrounding Nicholas Chamberlain, the Suffragan Bishop of Grantham, after news of his civil partnership was leaked. Welby said, after the revelation, it was not an issue and that he knew all along. But, of course, they successfully concealed it at the time of the appointment. What were they afraid of?
Congratulation – and grateful thanks – to Joe Hawes, his partner, and the Bishop of St Edmundsbury, for having the courage to be truthful.
Thank you Fr Andrew for asking me to check my privilege. I have done it many times. I am gay, so I may not be considered for a bishopric (but I am not a priest – by the way, being a priest is also a privilege) but as a white, privately and then Cambridge educated upper middle class man, I am privileged. The people you talk about as privileged are often oppressed on other grounds like racial and economic background. You also say that in this thread nobody is attacking anyone but the very person who started this discussion asks… Read more »