Gloucester Cathedral announces plans for the Installation of new Dean

In January this year, No. 10 Downing Street announced that The Revd Canon Andrew Zihni had been appointed as the next Dean of Gloucester, following approval from His Majesty the King. Andrew is currently Canon Precentor at Southwark Cathedral, and from Sunday 23 April he will begin his new ministry here in Gloucester.

His installation will take place at a special service at 3pm in the Cathedral. Members of the public are warmly welcome to attend and are asked to register their attendance at the service in advance via the Cathedral website. The service will also be live-streamed to the Cathedral Facebook page and YouTube channel for those who wish to join online.

Andrew brings a varied experience to Gloucester, with previous ministries in Goldthorpe in South Yorkshire, St George’s Chapel, Windsor and Westminster Abbey. He will move to Gloucester with his partner Lloyd soon after Easter. All at the Cathedral and the Diocese of Gloucester very much look forward to welcoming them.

Canon Andrew Zihni said:

“It is such a great joy and privilege to be taking up the responsibility of Dean of Gloucester in a couple of months’ time. I am hugely looking forward to the installation service on Sunday 23 April and to beginning my ministry in Gloucester.

It will be exciting to work with colleagues at the Cathedral to take further forward our priorities around strengthening our commitment to diversity and social justice; engaging our community deeper in prayer and worship; growing our work with children and young families; and reaching out into the city, county and wider diocese as a beacon of hope in challenging times.

I hope the service on 23 April will be an uplifting celebration of the new season in the Cathedral’s journey, as we seek to fulfil our calling to be in tune with heaven and in touch with daily life, and to point to the love of Jesus Christ for all people in the richness of our diversity.”

The Right Revd Rachel Treweek, Bishop of Gloucester, added:

“I am greatly looking forward to Andrew’s installation as the next Dean of Gloucester, deeply aware of the Cathedral’s significance not only for the City of Gloucester but also as the Mother Church of our diocese which stretches across the different communities of Gloucestershire and beyond.

Andrew’s installation comes at a time when there has been much change not only at the Cathedral but also in our country and world. It is appropriate that he is beginning his ministry as Dean during the Christian season of Eastertide as we look to the future with hope.

It will be wonderful to work with Andrew alongside Cathedral and Diocesan colleagues as he enables people to build on the past and as he brings new energy and vision to the shaping of the future, firmly rooted in his faith in Jesus Christ and his desire for all people to know the transforming love of God.”

ENDS

Notes for Editors

Canon Andrew Zihni:

Andrew was born and grew up in Hong Kong, before moving to the UK with his family. He trained for ordination at St Stephen’s House, Oxford, and was ordained Deacon in 2002 and Priest in 2003. He began his ordained ministry in the former mining town of Goldthorpe in South Yorkshire, before moving to St George’s Chapel, Windsor, where he was a Minor Canon and School Chaplain. Andrew then moved to Southwark, where he was Assistant Director of Vocations in the Diocese of Southwark and Honorary Minor Canon at Southwark Cathedral before becoming Canon Precentor in January 2021. He was also a Priest Vicar at Westminster Abbey from 2018 to 2021. He will move to Gloucester soon after Easter.

For more press information contact:

Ellie Fells

Marketing & Communications Manager

Ellie.fells@gloucestercathedral.org.uk