Queen appoints Dean of York
The Queen has appointed Right Reverend Jonathan Hugh Frost as the Dean of York.Published 26 November 2018
From: Prime Minister’s Office, 10 Downing StreetThe Queen has approved the nomination of the Right Reverend Jonathan Hugh Frost, BD, MTh, DUniv, FRSA, Suffragan Bishop of Southampton, in Winchester Diocese, to be appointed to the Deanery of the Cathedral Church of Saint Peter, York, on the elevation of the Very Reverend Vivienne Frances Faull, MA, as Bishop of Bristol, on 25 June 2018.
There are more details on the York diocesan website.
So the dean left to become a bishop, and a bishop comes to be the new dean.
There have been other bishop Deans, including the present Dean of Windsor who, as Dean, retains his bishop’s style “The Right Reverend”. Presumably that will also happen at York.
Of course he retains the style of a bishop. He is still a bishop. There is some overlapping of styles, but Rev and Rt Rev are tied to Order of ordination. Very Rev and Most Rev are variations tied to jurisdiction and courtesy/tradition.
Rowland — yes indeed. I was just rather whimsically noticing the symmetry of the situation: dean becomes bishop, bishop becomes dean. The asymmetry is that the bishop-become-dean remains a bishop, whereas the dean-become-bishop doesn’t remain a dean.
Here’s the Archbishop’s introduction of Jonathan Frost – & his speech of introduction & thanks – in the Minster nave this morning. (Video from the York Minster You Tube Channel) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UnfcUxn5LiM&feature=youtu.be
They seem to be getting these Decanal appointments right, at long last. No sign of an MBA in Jonathan Frost’s post-nominals, which is to be welcomed. But York can be relieved that their new Dean comes with intelligence, humanity, and emotional literacy. Let’s hope that there is a similarly appropriate appointment to the Deanery of Canterbury when it falls vacant – and Westminster, too.
It is certainly a positive gain for York Minster, and for the diocese, and beyond.
Fr John Emlyn
He’s an absolute star, we will miss him massively in the southern part of the Diocese of Winchester. he will be a huge gain.
Intrigued that someone who is obviously a high-flyer, and went to the “right” theological college, and would surely become a diocesan in time, should take this post. Does he realise that a major bishopric would be a poisoned chalice??
Here in western Canada I have personally known at least two bishops – Gary Woolsey and Roland Wood – who have resigned and gone back into parish ministry. Both of them had excellent post-episcopal ministries. Roland became the cathedral dean in Peace River, northern Alberta (Diocese of Athabasca), and he told me once that he loved wandering over to the synod office, listening to the phones ring and knowing that he didn’t have to do anything about them!
Nor is this episcopal move back to parish ministry unknown here in England. Most recently the Bishop of Shrewsbury – Mark Rylands has become Team Rector of the Ashburton and Moorland Team Ministry in the diocese of Exeter. Even Archbishops have been known to answer a similar call – David Hope resigned as Archbishop of York in order to minister as parish priest at Ilkley (baht at) and no less a personage than Geoffrey Fisher when he retired from the exalted position of Archbishop of Canterbury became an Honorary rural curate at Trent near Sherborne.
Becoming Dean of York didn’t prevent the last incumbent from becoming a Diocesan Bishop. After 5 years at York Minster, he would have rare qualifications for a major diocese.
Call me old fashioned – but maybe this is his vocation. The place where God has called him to minister. End of. It isnt always about speculating about the next big appointment or where someone might go next. Can’t we leave career speculation to the Holy Spirit?
Oh, and for the record, I know Bishop Jonathan and he is an outstanding pastor and minister; and his gifts will flourish in this wonderful new setting perhaps more than they have been allowed to where he currently is.
I agree with you Charles.
That’s great to hear, Charles. Personally I can’t imagine enjoying any other job in the church as much as I enjoy the job of parish priest.
Thank you Charles k for your wise words. I have always seen the priesthood, and episcopal orders as a vocation, lead by the Holy Spirit, not a secular ordering .
Fr John Emlyn
Congratulations Jonathan am watching this space – nice to see you are still wearing the episcopal ring!
My thinking is that a bishop being appointed to be a deanery looks like a demotion.