The Bishop has announced that the Reverend Kathryn Percival has been appointed as Canon Chancellor and Vice Dean.  Kathryn, a former barrister, is currently Vicar of Lingfield and Dormansland, and Area Dean of Tandridge.  She says, ‘I am delighted to be called to join the Cathedral community, and look forward very much to working with the Dean and Chapter in enabling the Cathedral to grow and flourish as an embodiment of the grace and generosity of Christ for the parish, the City, and the Diocese.’   The Dean says, ‘Kathryn is an outstanding priest who will be a huge asset to the ministry and mission of Cathedral.   I am delighted at the prospect of all she will bring to the life of the Cathedral, not least in leading its work in learning and teaching, and in congregational discipleship and growth.’

Kathryn Percival came to faith as a teenager through an inspiring teacher at school (and was once so excited to be in a church as an eight-year-old Brownie that she was told off by Brown Owl, for jumping).  She read Philosophy and Theology at Oxford before qualifying as a barrister, being called to the bar by Lincoln’s Inn in 1998 and working in civil litigation.  After her ordination in 2010, she served as a Curate in Purley, in suburban South London, before becoming Vicar of Lingfield and Dormansland, two semi-rural parishes in East Surrey, and Area Dean of Tandridge.  She is a trustee of several small charities, and has been governor of two local primary schools.  She currently serves on Southwark Diocesan Synod, is the Diocesan Churchyards Adviser, and is a member of the Bishop of Southwark’s Advisory Group for Liturgy.  She is also experienced in teaching adults, children and young people.  She is married to James, also a priest, and they have two teenage children, Dominic and Eliza, and a spirited young Australian Labradoodle, called Polly.  Kathryn is a keen singer, a useful pianist, and a lapsed violinist.

Kathryn will take up her role at the Cathedral at some point before Christmas.  An exact date will be announced as soon as it is known.