Four new canons join Salisbury Cathedral’s College of Canons

During the Evensong service on Thursday 23 May, three non-residentiary canons and a lay canon will be installed into the College of Canons at Salisbury Cathedral, by invitation of the Right Reverend Stephen Lake, Bishop of Salisbury.

The College of Canons is part of the Cathedral’s extended family and meets twice a year to provide feedback on policy decisions made by Chapter, the Cathedral’s governing body, and on Cathedral activities.

The Revd Keith Brindle, vicar of St James in Devizes, will take his place in the Teynton Regis stall in the Cathedral Quire. Keith has been the incumbent at St James for eight years, prior to which he has had a varied career, including as a Secondary School science teacher, a youth worker, a wastewater treatment design engineer and a fundraiser for WaterAid.

The Reverend Sarah Godfrey, taking up the Weymouth stall, is currently acting Team Rector for the Golden Cap Team in Dorset. She trained a Sarum College before being ordained deacon in Salisbury Cathedral in 2005. Sarah’s work includes ministry in primary schools and is governor of two schools in Lyme Regis and Marshwood.

The Revd Jo Neary takes up the Slape stall. Jo is Team Vicar in the Beaminster Area Team in West Dorset and also part time Tutor for Rural Ministry and Mission at Sarum College. She has a particular interest in rural pioneering and mission, rural poverty and social justice issues, as well as ministry with rural schools.

Taking up the Heytesbury stall as a lay canon, David Pain is Diocesan Secretary and CEO of the Salisbury Diocesan Board of Finance. He trained as a youth leader with the South African Council of Churches and worked in Archbishop Tutu’s Diocese of Cape Town. He went on to work for Christian Aid for twenty years and continues to contribute to global justice advocacy as Chair of Transform Trade.

The Dean of Salisbury, the Very Revd Nicholas Papadopulos, said: “We are delighted to welcome Keith, Sarah and Jo as non-residentiary canons and David as a lay canon at the Cathedral. Their varied range of experience and skills from within the Diocese, and beyond, will prove invaluable and I look forward to working with them.”

Speaking ahead of the service, the Bishop of Salisbury, The Right Revd Stephen Lake, said: “I am delighted that Keith, Sarah, Jo and David have accepted the invitation to join the Cathedral’s College of Canons. This will ensure that the interests and views of the Diocese and its parishes continue to be heard by the Cathedral. David’s experience leading the Diocesan Board of Finance will also bring a new perspective to College discussions.”