Canon Takes Up New Role at Sunderland Minster
06/09/2012
The Reverend Canon Sheila Bamber has formally been licensed as Canon Provost at Sunderland Minster, the only Minster to have such a post.
Sheila, who was previously at St Nicholas Cathedral in Newcastle, was formally licensed by the Bishop of Durham in a service at the Minster on Wednesday 5th September
A feature of the service was the way she was ‘handed over’ by Newcastle, escorted by Head Verger of St Nicholas Cathedral Newcastle Gordon Scott and presented to Bishop Justin for licensing by Archdeacon of Sunderland and Chair of The Minster Council The Venerable Stuart Bain. The choirs of both cathedral and minster also took part.
The appointment marks a return to the Durham Diocese for Sheila who started her working life in social housing and began her career as a clergywoman in the Durham area, later on becoming the Diocese’s Director of Education, and a Honorary Canon of Durham Cathedral. During her time as Director of Education, Sheila worked extensively in and around Sunderland, particularly with the Venerable Bede Church of Aided Secondary School in Tunstall Bank, and also with the Benedict Biscop Church of England Primary Academy in Moorside. Also during this time she worked with the new academies agenda in the diocese and played a key role in the creation of St Aidan’s Church of England Academy in Darlington.
She has worked for the past two years at Newcastle Cathedral, overseeing educational projects work as well as a range of other schemes including the successful award of a Heritage Lottery Fund grant for ‘Illuminating Stories’, a restoration and education project to bring the Cathedral monuments back to public display.
On Wednesday next week (September 12), she will complete her Minster team with a similar service for new University Chaplain the Reverend Chris Howson.
Sheila said: “It is very exciting and I am looking forward to being able to roll up my sleeves and get on with the job. The arrival of Chris Howson completes a really strong team at the Minster.
We need to get out there and meet people and see how best the Minster can make a contribution to the life of the city.”
Pictures By: Keith Blundy / Aegies Associates
Images from this service can be purchased here
View the news archive