St German's Cathedral, Isle of Man: New dean installed

Dean Godfrey has been based at St German's Cathedral since 2007

A new dean of the Isle of Man's cathedral, St German's, Peel, has been installed at a special service.

The Very Reverend Nigel Godfrey, who has been the cathedral's vicar and sub-dean since 2007, is a former town planner.

He takes over as dean from the Bishop of Sodor and Man, the Rt Rev Robert Patterson, reuniting the historic roles of dean and vicar of German.

His first task was to install a new archdeacon and lay canon.

Dean Godfrey was previously principal of the ordination training course in the Diocese of Southwark, chairman of the associated University of Wales (Bangor) Centre for Ministry Studies, and a chaplain at Southwark Cathedral.

Historic link

His priestly ministry began in inner city Brixton in London where he lived in a "new monastic" community while running courses for the diocese training spiritual directors.

The new archdeacon, the Venerable Andrew Brown, who was commissioned in September, has been Canon Theologian at Derby Cathedral since 2003.

The new lay canon, Colin Finney, is operations manager (harbours and coastguard) for the Manx Government Department of Infrastructure, and warden of readers for the diocese.

The office of dean of Peel and vicar of St German have been linked since the 12th Century when there were two churches.

But the dean's role has been combined with the bishop since the late 19th Century.