Canons of Christ Church Cathedral
Grafton
In medieval England, the Canons of a Cathedral were a group of clergy who assisted the Dean in the mission and ministry of the Cathedral. They often lived within the cloister of the Cathedral but that is not the case in Grafton.
Residentiary Canons
The Canons of Christ Church Cathedral in Grafton are a group of clergy and lay members of the Diocese of Grafton who have been elected or appointed to serve on the Chapter of the Cathedral.
Four Clerical Canons;
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The Revd Canon Naomi Cooke (elected by the House of Clergy at Synod)
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The Revd Canon Mike Ridge (elected by the House of Clergy at Synod),
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The Revd Canon John Barrett (appointed by the Bishop), and
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The Venerable Zoe Everingham (appointed by the Dean).
Four Lay Canons;
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Canon Terry Shorten (elected by the House of Laity at Synod),
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Canon Professor Robert Weatherby (elected by the House of Laity at Synod),
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Canon Heather McKinnon (appointed by the Bishop), and
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Canon Phillip Bonser (appointed by the Dean).
Honorary Canons
The Bishop may also appoint a small number of additional people as Honorary Canons of the Cathedral. These people may have designated roles within the Cathedral or the Diocese, but they are not members of the Cathedral Chapter. Our current Honorary Canons are:
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The Revd Canon Camellia Flanagan, TSSF (Canon Pastor at the Cathedral)
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The Revd Canon Judy Edwards
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The Revd Canon Matthew Jones
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The Revd Canon Angela Dutton
CANONS
Canons are definitely amongst the big guns of the Church of England, although perhaps the smallest of them. Canon is the title given to a cleric who is a member of a cathedral and derives from the fact that he is bound by the rules or canons of that cathedral. Some canons have specific roles within the life of the cathedral eg treasurer or precentor and are known as residentiary canons and, with the dean, form the chapter, which is the governing body of the cathedral, responsible on the one hand for the maintenance of worship within the cathedral and on the other for the maintenance of the cathedral buildings. There are also honorary canons, clergy whom it is desired to honour because of their service to the diocese; these have stalls in the cathedral for their use when attending particular services. Broadly speaking, the residentiary canons form the lesser and all the canons the greater chapter; it is the lesser chapter that is the executive body referred to above.
SOURCE: Church of England Companion
