Celebrating New Canons at Norwich Cathedral: Honoring Faith, Scholarship, and Service
Norwich Cathedral recently celebrated the installation of three distinguished individuals as canons, each bringing unique contributions to the spiritual and intellectual life of the cathedral community. Dr. Claire Gilbert, a renowned scholar and author, was installed as a lay canon, while the Reverend Richard Lamey and the Reverend Martin Greenland were both honored as honorary canons during a special Evensong service on October 14th. These appointments highlight the cathedral’s commitment to fostering connections between scholarship, pastoral ministry, and community service, continuing its centuries-old tradition as a center of faith and learning in East Anglia.
Dr. Claire Gilbert’s installation as a lay canon recognizes her extraordinary contributions to the understanding of Julian of Norwich, the 14th-century mystic who was the first woman to write a book in the English language. Gilbert’s book “I, Julian” reconstructs the life of this influential medieval spiritual writer who continues to inspire seekers across faith traditions. Gilbert brings an impressive breadth of expertise in medical ethics, environmental concerns, finance, business ethics, and spirituality in public life. Her connection to Norwich Cathedral runs deep, dating back to her gap year cathedral tours when her father wisely observed that “cathedrals are one of the reasons the country holds together.” Gilbert previously served as founding director of the Westminster Abbey Institute, which works to revitalize moral and spiritual values in public life, and as a lay canon at St. Paul’s Cathedral, where she co-founded St. Paul’s Institute focusing on ethics in finance and business. Her appointment represents a homecoming of sorts, bringing her scholarly passion for Julian directly to the city where the mystic lived and wrote.
The Reverend Richard Lamey’s appointment as an honorary canon honors his vital work as the Director of Mission and Ministry for the Diocese of Norwich. In expressing his gratitude for the appointment, Lamey highlighted his enthusiasm for working with “amazing people” throughout the diocese, emphasizing his commitment to helping the faithful discern God’s calling in their lives as “disciples and pilgrims.” His description of Norwich as “a particularly happy and friendly Cathedral” speaks to the welcoming atmosphere that characterizes this historic place of worship. Lamey’s role connects the cathedral directly with parishes throughout the diocese, strengthening the bonds between the mother church and its extended faith family across Norfolk and beyond. His installation reinforces the cathedral’s position at the heart of a living, active network of Christian communities working together in service and witness.
The Reverend Martin Greenland, Rector of the Acle and Bure to Yare Benefice, was also recognized with installation as an honorary canon. His appointment acknowledges his dedicated service across a rural multi-parish benefice and deanery. With characteristic humility, Greenland expressed gratitude “for the recognition of the grassroots ministry in parishes and deanery I share with many others,” emphasizing the collaborative nature of his work “seeking to serve God and neighbour in our local communities.” His canonship highlights the cathedral’s appreciation for the often-unsung ministry taking place in small towns and villages across the diocese, where clergy and lay leaders work faithfully to maintain Christian presence and service. Greenland’s recognition serves as an important reminder that cathedral ministry extends far beyond the magnificent building itself, reaching into every corner of the diocese through dedicated servants like him.
The Bishop of Norwich affirmed that both new honorary canons “continue to make a significant contribution to the life of the diocese,” while noting that Dr. Gilbert brings “an impressive range of experience as well as her deep interest in Mother Julian.” These appointments reflect the cathedral’s dual commitment to excellence in ministry within its walls and throughout the diocese, while also honoring scholarly engagement with the rich spiritual heritage of Norwich, particularly through Julian’s writings. The Bishop’s remarks underscore how these three individuals represent different but complementary aspects of the church’s life and mission—scholarship, diocesan leadership, and parish ministry—all vital to the flourishing of Anglican Christianity in Norfolk.
The Dean of Norwich emphasized how the appointments of Reverends Lamey and Greenland “strengthen the cathedral’s links with ministry across the diocese,” while highlighting Dr. Gilbert’s contributions not only in Julian studies but also her “extensive experience of the role cathedrals can play in education and shaping public debate.” These remarks point to the cathedral’s self-understanding as both a center of worship and a forum for intellectual engagement with contemporary issues. In welcoming these three new canons, Norwich Cathedral affirms its commitment to being a place where faith, learning, and service converge—where the wisdom of figures like Julian of Norwich can speak to present-day concerns, and where ministry reaches both inward to the cathedral community and outward to the wider world. The installation ceremony at Evensong provided a fitting liturgical context for celebrating these appointments, framing them within the cathedral’s ancient rhythms of prayer and praise that have continued uninterrupted for nearly a millennium.
