A New Chapter Begins at Norwich Cathedral
In a significant ceremony at Norwich Cathedral, Revd Canon Liz Leaver has embarked on her new journey as Residentiary Canon. During the Choral Evensong on Tuesday, February 24th, she was formally installed as the Cathedral’s Canon Pastor and received a blessing from the Bishop of Norwich while the Cathedral Choir filled the ancient space with song. This installation marks a meaningful transition for both Canon Leaver and the Cathedral community, bringing fresh energy and vision to this historic institution that has stood as a spiritual cornerstone in Norwich for centuries.
As Canon Pastor, Liz takes on a role centered on human connection and spiritual care. She will lead efforts in providing pastoral support to the Cathedral’s congregation and wider community, while also overseeing the hospitality extended to the hundreds of pilgrims and visitors who cross the Cathedral threshold each year. In joining the clergy team led by Dean Andrew Braddock, alongside Vice Dean Peter Doll and Canon Precentor Aidan Platten, Liz brings her unique perspective to a team dedicated to preserving and sharing the Cathedral’s spiritual heritage. Her appointment follows the retirement of Revd Canon Andy Bryant, who served faithfully for ten years as the Cathedral’s Canon for Mission and Pastoral Care.
“I am delighted to be joining the team at Norwich Cathedral,” Canon Liz shared warmly following her installation. She spoke of her Irish heritage and its influence on her appreciation for storytelling, noting how her life has been “enriched time and again by the privilege of hearing them—from all kinds of people, often in unexpected places.” This sentiment reveals her people-centered approach to ministry as she looks forward to “hearing the stories of the cathedral community—and of all who come as visitors and pilgrims—and together encountering God.” Canon Liz also expressed gratitude for the welcome she and her family have received, and acknowledged the sense of privilege she feels in becoming part of the Cathedral’s Benedictine heritage with its “rhythm of prayer, welcome and learning”—a tradition that has shaped the Cathedral’s ethos for generations.
Canon Liz brings a diverse background to her new role. Born and raised in Belfast, she later moved to England to pursue her education. Her professional journey began in the emerging field of artificial intelligence before she answered her calling to ministry in 1993, when she was ordained in Ely diocese. Her clerical career has been rich and varied, spanning service in Liverpool, Chester, and Manchester dioceses across parish and chaplaincy settings. Most recently, she served as chaplain to Stockport Grammar School in Cheshire, a position that honed her skills in guiding and supporting young people in their spiritual development. Beyond her vocation, Canon Liz enjoys an active personal life, playing tennis and hiking when time permits, and shares her life with her husband and their two children who are now in their early twenties.
The Cathedral leadership has enthusiastically welcomed Canon Liz to her new position. Bishop Graham Usher expressed his pleasure at her appointment, highlighting the three key areas of her ministry: “caring for the congregation and community; helping people grow in faith; and coordinating the welcome of pilgrims and visitors.” He shared his anticipation for “all that she will bring to this important and exciting ministry,” recognizing the significance of her role in maintaining the Cathedral’s mission as both a place of worship and a destination for those seeking spiritual connection. Similarly, Dean Andrew Braddock noted that they are “delighted to welcome Liz as the Cathedral’s new Canon Pastor,” acknowledging the “wealth of ministerial experience” she brings from various contexts including parish, school, and hospital settings, and expressing eagerness for her contributions to the Cathedral’s life.
Norwich Cathedral, with its towering spire and nearly millennium-long history, continues its tradition of renewal and adaptation with Canon Liz’s appointment. As the Cathedral serves its diverse roles—as a place of daily prayer, a center of community gathering, a destination for seekers and tourists, and a keeper of religious heritage—Canon Liz’s ministry promises to enrich these various dimensions. Her emphasis on hearing people’s stories and facilitating encounters with God aligns perfectly with the Cathedral’s mission to be a place where the divine and human meet. As she steps into the footsteps of those who have served before her, Canon Liz brings her own gifts of pastoral care, storytelling appreciation, and commitment to welcome—continuing the Cathedral’s living tradition while helping it respond to the spiritual needs of the twenty-first century.
