This occasion marks the formal beginning of Chris’s ministry as Dean of Winchester, in a service which follows, roughly, the shape of Evensong. The saying or singing of the Daily Office is the single most important element of the life of this Cathedral, and marks our existence as a worshipping community. To present the new Dean’s Installation within this context is to make a positive statement about the priority given to the daily worship of God in the life of this Cathedral community. The Cathedral Choir will be leading the music for this service, representing the gifts and talents of the whole people of God.
Booking
Everyone is welcome. In view of the expected attendance, booking will be required for this service.
Booking will available via this webpage on the 26th February at 10.00am.
Tickets will be free of charge.
History
The office of the Dean of Winchester was established by Letters Patent of King Henry VIII dated 28th March 1541. William Kingsmill, who had been the last Prior of the Benedictine Monastery of St Swithun at the time of its dissolution in 1539, was nominated our first original and modern Dean.
Our new Dean’s predecessors include Sir John Mason, Dean from 1549–1553, the only layman to have held the post; John Warner (1559–1564), the first professor of Medicine at Oxford, and George Abbot (1600–1609), who went on to be Bishop of Lichfield, London, and then Archbishop of Canterbury. At the Restoration of the Monarchy in 1660, Alexander Hyde was appointed Dean until 1665. Two long-serving Deans dominated the 19th century: Thomas Rennell (1805–1840) and Thomas Garnier the botanist (1840–1872). William Furneaux, the first of the 20th century Deans, presided over the monumental work of underpinning the Cathedral from 1905–1911, an achievement still commemorated each year at the Friends’ Festival Service.