The Very Rev’d Canon Dr Walter Brownridge was collated and installed as Dean of St Paul’s Cathedral Nicosia on Saturday 7th March.
A full cathedral, including ecumenical representatives, members of the diplomatic corps and Island clergy and congregations as well as members of the cathedral congregation witnessed the event, in the context of an appropriately extended service of Evensong. The mood was upbeat and hopeful as Dean Walter was placed in his stall by Archdeacon Paul and vested with the new cathedral tippet by the canon theologian. The tippets (essentially silk scarves with a diocesan badge) were on display for the first time at the Cathedral. A canon’s gown was worn by the cathedral’s only lay canon, Mrs Georgia Katsantonis. Bishop Sean Semple presided and preached.
Basing his sermon on the opening Beatitudes of the Sermon on the Mount, Bishop Sean expanded on the images of salt, light and glory. In the process he outlined a vision for the cathedral, describing what he expected it to be as a centre of engaging and caring Christianity; excellence and hospitality as the Mother Church of the Anglican parishes in Cyprus; and having its identity rooted in being a Cathedral of a Middle Eastern Anglican Diocese.
Referencing the welcome presence of diplomatic representatives, he looked forward to a time, (with a smile), when the Cathedral would be so well known that it would no longer be described as opposite the Greek Embassy, but rather that the Greek Embassy would be described as opposite St Paul’s!
Dean Walter will also be Canon to the Ordinary. Bishop Sean described this as a role in relation to the Diocese, concerned with the creation of policy and ongoing review and development of the Diocesan Constitution.
Dean Walter has had opportunity to get to know his new congregation by serving as a locum during the summer of 2025. He joins the Diocese from Vermont in the USA but has wide international experience and academic theological reputation. He was welcomed by the congregation with warm applause.
(A profile of the new Dean will appear in the Summer edition of Bible Lands)
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All photos: Nobre Photography