St Albans Cathedral appoints new Sub Dean

A Barnet priest, The Revd Richard Watson, is to become the next Sub Dean of St Albans Cathedral, number two to the Dean. St Albans Cathedral is the cathedral church of the Diocese of St Albans, a Christian presence in every community in Bedfordshire, Hertfordshire, Luton and parts of Barnet.

palmsunday Richard Watson’s appointment was announced during services on Sunday, 17^th April, Palm Sunday. He is currently Rector of St Mary’s, East Barnet, since 2003 and also Area Dean of Barnet & Associate Minister at Barnet Brookside Methodist Church .

The Dean of St Albans , the Very Revd Jeffrey John said, “All of us at the Abbey who were involved in his appointment are delighted that Richard is to be our next Sub Dean. I feel we should apologize to St Mary's East Barnet (which was founded by the Abbey) for stealing him. I am sure he will be as popular and successful here as he has been there.”

Richard has a wide experience of working with young people and children, helping the Diocesan Board of Education to resource Church schools across the diocese and having worked with the Diocesan Youth Service.

Speaking about his appointment, Richard Watson said: "We've had a fantastic 8 years in East Barnet and to be honest, expected to have a few more! It is a huge privilege to be joining the team at the Cathedral where I was ordained 18 years ago, and we are very much looking forward to settling in and getting to know the Abbey community and the City of St Albans better."

His previous ministry took him to Kempston, Bedford and to Dunstable Team Ministry, where he also co-ordinated the Diocesan HIV Network, before going to Barnet.

After studying theology, Richard’s early career was as a theatre publicity manager and manager of an ecumenical youth project before going to train for ordination at Trinity College , Bristol . He retains an interest in theatre, is an avid reader and since his 40th birthday and a chance meeting with the 10th Doctor on an old sofa under a railway arch, he has become a fully fledged Dr Who geek and now shares his study with an inflatable Dalek.

Richard (44) is a Tertiary in the Society of St Francis, a religious order, and among his other affiliations, he is a member of the Society of Catholic priests and a priest associate of the Shrine of Our Lady of Walsingham in Norfolk .

Richard and his wife Linda and three children, Daniel, Rosie and Luke will be moving to St Albans in time to take up his appointment in September 2011.

~ END ~