Bishop Helen-Ann is delighted to announce the appointment of the Revd Simon Dowson as Bishop’s Chaplain and Minor Canon of Newcastle Cathedral.
Simon will begin his role at the Patronal Festival of St Nicholas on Saturday 5 December.
Brought up in Yorkshire, Simon studied Politics at Bristol University before working as a teacher in Uganda, Kent and Zimbabwe.
While in Uganda, Simon first felt his calling to ordination. He trained at Cranmer Hall and has nearly thirty years of experience as a parish priest, with his latest post being near Richmond in the Diocese of Leeds.
Reacting to his appointment, Simon said: “I'm delighted to be appointed as Bishop Helen-Ann’s chaplain as well as Minor Canon at Newcastle Cathedral. I'm very much looking forward to moving to Newcastle, and to having a new and quite different role. I'm also looking forward to getting to know people across the diocese and playing my part in helping realise the diocesan vision, ‘to be confident Christians enabling more and different people to experience life in all its fullness.’”
Bishop Helen-Ann said: “I am absolutely delighted that Simon has been appointed as my chaplain and as Minor Canon of Newcastle Cathedral. Simon brings to both aspects of this role a long-standing, rich and varied range of ministry experiences and a deep sense of calling to support me as Bishop of Newcastle. Having worked with Simon in my previous episcopal role in the Diocese of Leeds I have immense regard for his ministry. I am very much looking forward to welcoming him to our diocese as we continue to build on our vision of more and different people experiencing life in all its fulness. I am grateful to God for calling Simon in this season and look forward to introducing him to our many people, communities and contexts. Please do welcome Simon and his wife Fiona to our diocese as we get to know them in the coming months."
The Dean of Newcastle, Lee Batson said: “We are delighted that Simon will be joining us as Minor Canon at the Cathedral, alongside his primary responsibilities as Chaplain to the Bishop. We are confident that this appointment will further embed the Cathedral in the life of the Diocese, and look forward to receiving the insights that Simon will bring in his new ministry as we continue to strive to be a beacon of light in our Diocese and region.”
On behalf of the interview panel, The Revd Canon Dr Hannah Cleugh commented: “We very much enjoyed meeting Simon, and were particularly impressed by his substantial experience of parochial ministry in a variety of contexts. We are sure that he will prove a great support to Bishop Helen-Ann in her ministry across the diocese and the wider Church of England, and we look forward to welcoming him to Newcastle and to working with him.”
Simon is married to Fiona and they have two adult children and two grandchildren. He has a strong interest in clergy wellbeing and is convinced that it is important to see clergy flourish for both their own good and the good of the church.
*Attend the service* All are welcome to this service. Registering via TicketSource will help staff and clergy plan seating and refreshments for all who attend. Refreshments will be kindly provided by the Friends of St Nicholas, an independent membership group and registered charity dedicated to supporting, promoting and enhancing the Cathedral’s heritage.
To attend the service, which starts at 4pm on Saturday 5th December, click: https://www.ticketsource.com/newcastle-cathedral-registrations/patronal-festival-with-installation-of-non-residentiary-canons/e-mvvaap