CITY DEAN "HONOURED" BY NEW ROLE AT YORK MINSTER

This article appears in today's Leicester Mercury:

City's Dean honoured by new role at York Minster

Dean of Leicester, the Very Rev Vivienne Faull, has been given the task of running one of England's biggest cathedrals.

Downing Street announced yesterday that Dean Faull was to be the new dean at York Minster – one of the most senior and prestigious deaneries in the Church of England.

Dean Faull, 57, has been responsible for Leicester Cathedral since 2000, when she was appointed provost of Leicester, the first woman to lead a Church of England cathedral. She became Dean of Leicester in 2002.

She said she was delighted and honoured to have been given the task of running one of England's biggest cathedrals.

She also thanked the people of Leicester for their support.

"The people of the parishes of the diocese, and of the cathedral, have gently and generously taken me into their care as I have learnt with and from them how to be a dean," she said.

"It is, of course, daunting to move from one of the smallest to one of the largest cathedrals, but I know there are many people who care deeply for York Minster, its mission and ministry, and I look forward to leading a large team on its continued development."

The Bishop of Leicester, the Rt Rev Tim Stevens, said: "I am delighted Viv Faull has been appointed as the next Dean of York.

"She has been a great ambassador for the cathedral and will leave it in a stronger position. I am glad her vision and leadership qualities will continue to be used in cathedral ministry."

Dean Faull has been at the forefront of the role of women in the church and was ordained in 1994.

She has been a member of the General Synod since 2004 and is on the panel of Chairs of Synod.

In 2009, she was elected chairman of the Association of English Cathedrals, the cathedrals' representative body.

She was also one of the founder directors of the company tasked with delivering St Martin's House, in Leicester, as the new centre for mission for the diocese, housing the offices of the diocese and cathedral. She succeeds Keith Jones, who retired in April, and is expected to take up her new post in September.

Although excited to be moving back north, Dean Faull says she will miss Leicester.

She said: "Having lived here for 12 years, I will leave part of my heart here, the city is very special."

Details regarding a service of farewell in Leicester Cathedral and her installation in York Minster will be published soon.