Breaking: Dean of Winchester quits
NewsThe Very Reverend Catherine Ogle, Dean of Winchester Cathedral, is to retire next May, after eight years in the post, it was announced this morning. Dean Catherine said: ‘For some years I’ve planned my retirement for 2025. This is the year that my husband reaches the age of 70 and we both feel that it’s the right time for us to move on into a new stage of life.
‘Christian ministry is always a privilege. Serving as Dean of Winchester has been the greatest honour. I never imagined, when I became one of the first women to be ordained priest in the Church of England back in 1994, that God’s calling would lead here.’
Bishop Philip Mounstephen said: ‘Notwithstanding the challenges of the last few months, I am immensely grateful to Dean Catherine not only for the warmth of her personal welcome to me, since I arrived as bishop, but also for the excellence of the ministry she has exercised at the Cathedral, making it a place of generous hospitality and uplifting worship.’
Dean Catherine, who is 63, was previously the Dean of Birmingham.
The Bishop is engaged in a far-reaching investigation into bullying allegations that led to the departure of the Cathedral’s director of music. Dean Catherine is not personally implicated, but the alleged events took place on her watch.
Good. Now the Precentor needs to resign.
An opportune moment presented itself, who will discuss her resignation now that Welby has also resigned today over a separate issue made of his own inaction. For any organisation, to lose the head is unfortunate, but another senior level loss on the same day starts to look more serious.
I thought the old chestnut of ‘wanting to spend more time with your family’ belonged to the world of politics, but maybe not! And Simon is quite right about the timing of the Dean’s announcement – slight echo of ‘good day to bury bad news’?
I was able to contribute to James O’Brien’s spot about Justin Welby on LBC Radio this morning – the gist of his question was ‘why do adults find it so difficult to deal with things like abuse promptly and effectively?’ – from my experience of a painful C of E whistleblowing episode some years ago, I suggested that the protection of the institution takes absolute priority over the ‘victims’. I believe they suffer just as must hurt from the inaction of people like Justin Welby as from the original abuse.
Let’s hope that from all the turmoil and fallout at Lambeth, a kinder and reformed C of E culture will emerge and make the recent events at places like Winchester a thing of the past. Not holding my breath though!
And every possible happiness to Andrew Lumsden and his new wife, Leona!
We wouldn’t want anyone speaking up too loudly about equal treatment for the cathedral’s girl choristers!!