At today’s Sung Eucharist for the Fourth Sunday of Advent, the Dean of Manchester announced that Canon David Holgate would be retiring in May 2022.
David, said, “In 2022 it will be forty years since I was first ordained, with twenty-nine being spent in ministry in the Church of England. It has been a remarkable adventure, concluding with over seven years in Manchester. I have loved getting to know the people of this great city and having the privilege in sharing in their lives as the Canon for Theology and Mission at Manchester Cathedral. It has been an honour to follow in the footsteps of such distinguished theologians as Andrew Shanks and John Atherton. I have particularly valued the friendships I have made with people of other living faiths, and have learned so much from working and studying with them. Patricia and I are glad to be remaining in the North West after my retirement.”
The Very Rev’d Rogers Govender MBE, Dean of Manchester, said, “David and his wife Patricia will be missed in the Cathedral community and I wish them both well as they settle into retirement life and ministry. David has been a great colleague to me over these past years and I will miss his wisdom, loyalty and Christian witness to our Lord.”
The Rev’d Canon Dr David Holgate was ordained deacon in 1982 and priested in 1984. He served in the dioceses of Port Elizabeth and Grahamstown, combining parish ministry with theological education until his move to the UK in 1993. After dual-role ministry in the Diocese of Chelmsford, he moved to Salisbury in 1997 to be Dean of Studies and Deputy Director of the Southern Theological Education and Training Scheme, the ecumenical ordination training course for central southern England based at Sarum College. He became Principal in early 2011. As Canon for Theology and Mission, he has fostered academic links with the University of Manchester as an honorary research fellow, and he has led and co-led a number of strategic interfaith projects in Greater Manchester. Canon David has also keenly promoted the place of the arts and poetry in the Cathedral, working closely with the artist- and poet-in-residence.
The following announcement was also made this morning at Manchester Cathedral by the Dean of Manchester, the Very Rev’d Rogers Govender MBE:
The Dean and Chapter of St George’s Cathedral are pleased to announce that the Archbishop of Perth, the Most Reverend Kay Goldsworthy AO, has approved the appointment of the Reverend Steven Hilton, Cathedral Curate at Manchester Cathedral, United Kingdom, to be the next Precentor of St George’s Cathedral, Perth, Western Australia.
He went on to say: “My best wishes to Steve as he prepares with Marco for the shores of Western Australia and all that awaits them in this new ministry. He has been a good colleague and curate these past few years and he will be missed.”
Commenting on the retirement of Canon David Holgate and appointment of the Rev’d Steven Hilton, both likely to leave around the same time, he went on to say: “Go well, dear friends, and God bless you all in the years ahead.”
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