A former city banker and an ex-international businessman are amongst three members of the clergy who have been installed as canons at Ripon Cathedral this month.
The Reverend Dan Sladden worked in the City of London for ten years before becoming a vicar and the Reverend John Chambers, (pictured right) Vicar of Richmond with Hudswell and Downholme and Marske and Area Dean of Richmond Deanery was a board member of an international textile group before being ordained.
(Pictured left, with the Dean of Ripon, John Dobson (centre) are the Revd Barry Pyke (left) and the Revd Dan Sladden.) Two of the posts will be on the staff at Ripon Cathedral and have been created as part of Ripon Cathedral’s vision for the future. The appointments follow publication of the Cathedral’s strategy document, Growing God’s Kingdom, which outlines the Cathedral’s strategy for the next few years. “Both these appointments relate directly to our recently published Cathedral vision” says the Dean of Ripon, the Very Revd John Dobson. “Barry Pyke will be developing our engagement with the rural community as well as keeping the education brief and connecting with military communities in this area.
“Dan Sladden is coming to help develop our worship so that we can hopefully connect with people who at the moment are not coming to the cathedral for worship, so working with our Canon Evangelist, Ruth Hind, to develop that.”
The Revd Barry Pyke, (54), was Area Dean of Whitby in the diocese of York. Married, with two children, Barry is also a reserve Army Chaplain and plans to continue developing links with the military in his new post.
“I feel very excited about the move. I love the rural environment and working in rural areas and it’s something I am really looking forward to. I will be looking at supporting rural ministry and raising the profile of the cathedral. And the Cathedral has a great education portfolio where it engages with school children, sharing the Christian faith using the cathedral. It’s a good combination.”
The Revd Dan Sladden, (47), who lives in Sowerby nr Thirsk, trained as a pioneer minister and following a four-year curacy at Ingleby Barwick in York Diocese, and joins the clergy team as Minor Canon Succentor. He is married to Ruth who sings in the choir and the couple have five children, three of whom still sing in the cathedral choir. “I am very excited about moving here”, said Dan, “This is a half-time job and I will be helping to lead worship, and the role is about being involved in liturgy and in church growth.”