The Very Revd Chris Dalliston, Dean of Peterborough
The Very Revd Chris Dalliston was installed as Dean of Peterborough in January 2018. Prior to taking up his appointment he was Dean of Newcastle for 14 years, where he oversaw significant improvements in the Cathedral’s facilities for visitors and worshippers, and led a partnership with the City Council and others to re-invigorate the historic heart of the city.

Chris has his roots in the east of England. He grew up in Norfolk, studied at Cambridge University and served in the Diocese of Chelmsford for the first 12 years of his ministry. Before going to Newcastle he was Vicar of St Botolph’s Church at Boston in Lincolnshire (known as ‘the Stump’) from 1995-2003.

Chris was born in 1956 and brought up at Diss in Norfolk. He studied Modern History at Peterhouse, Cambridge, then worked for the Ford Motor Company from 1978 to 1981 before entering St Stephen's House, Oxford to study theology and train for ordination. He was ordained Deacon in 1984 and Priest in 1985, and served his curacy at St Andrew with Holy Trinity, Halstead, Essex. From 1987 to 1991 he was Chaplain to the Bishop of Chelmsford, and from 1991 to 1995 Vicar of St Edmund’s Church at Forest Gate in London.

Chris is married to Michelle and has four adult children, Alex, Tom, Georgie, and Bella. Michelle is also ordained and is Interim Vicar of Higham Ferrers with Chelveston-cum-Caldecott in the Diocese of Peterborough. He lists poetry and music (especially jazz, folk and opera) among his interests. He and Michelle love Italy and all things Italian. He is a keen follower of Formula 1 and a (very) long suffering supporter of Norwich City FC.

Contact:
Dean's PA
01733 355316
Dean.PA@peterborough-cathedral.org.uk

Canon Missioner 

The Revd Canon Steve Benoy, currently Peterborough Diocesan Director of Ordinands and Director of Vocation and Formation, is to become Bishop’s Chaplain and Canon Missioner. He will begin his work as Bishop's Chaplain on 17th February 2022, and as Canon Missioner on 1st May 2022. We look forward to welcoming him. 

Revd Canon Dr Rowan Williams, Precentor

The Revd Canon Dr Rowan Williams was installed as Precentor in September 2018.

Rowan first became interested in liturgy and music as a student at King's College, Cambridge, where she studied for a BA in modern languages and sang in as many choirs as possible. During her year abroad, she taught English in a German secondary school, and translated the lyrics of Captain Noah and his Floating Zoo into German for the school choir!

Her professional background is in residential care – working with adults with multiple disabilities and dementia. She then spent seven years as a member of the Community of St Francis, an Anglican religious order, before training for ordination.

Rowan was ordained in the Diocese of Leicester in 2005, where she worked in a deprived urban parish, and then as a hospital chaplain, with a particular interest in palliative care. During her curacy she began studying for a PhD in early Franciscan theology, which took seven years to complete (and may become a book one day). She is just finishing a Masters in English Church Music from the University of York, which was a lot quicker and a lot more entertaining to write. She has also written two books – one on Franciscan spirituality and another on the theology of chaplaincy. Immediately prior to taking up her role as Canon Precentor, Rowan spent nearly nine years as Chaplain to the University of York.

Rowan is an enthusiastic, if occasionally despairing, supporter of Welsh rugby; she also used to have a season ticket to Leicester Tigers, after whose ground her cat Welford is named. She also enjoys horses, languages, books and coffee.

Contact:
01733 355315
canon.precentor@peterborough-cathedral.org.uk

Revd Canon Tim Alban Jones, Vice Dean and Chaplain to the Bishop of Peterborough 

From January 2022 Canon Tim will step down from his role as Bishop's Chaplain and become a full time Residentiary Canon and Vice Dean at the Cathedral.

Born near London, Tim lived his early life in the home counties and South Wales before moving to South Africa for three years.  The family returned and settled in Gloucestershire where Tim and his twin brother went to Wycliffe College.  On leaving school at 17 Tim spent some time in the USA before his degree in history at the University of Warwick.  He went straight from university to Ripon College Cuddesdon where he spent three years preparing for ordination.

Tim was ordained in Hereford in 1988 and served his curacy in the parish of St Paul’s, Tupsley where he met and married his wife Cathy, a Nurse Consultant in Palliative Care.  From there he became a Team Vicar in the Ross-on-Wye Team Ministry with responsibility for four very rural parishes. After just over seven very happy years Tim and his family moved to Soham where they have spent the last fifteen years.  During his time in Soham, the parish was thrown into the media limelight with the murder of the two school girls.  He was awarded an MBE in recognition of his ‘service to the community’. He has also served on General Synod, as a Rural Dean, Warden of Readers and chair of the House of Clergy as well as various other diocesan committees.

Tim and Cathy have three grown up children. Tim’s interests include music, cooking, liturgy and reading.

Contact:
01733 887014
tim.albanjones@peterborough-diocese.org.uk

The Chapter of Peterborough Cathedral

Dean of Peterborough

The Very Reverend Chris Dalliston

Residentiary Canons

Revd Canon Tim Alban Jones, Vice Dean (also Chaplain to the Bishop of Peterborough until end of December 2022) 
Revd Canon Steve Benoy, Canon Missioner (from 1st May 2022)
Revd Canon Doctor Rowan Williams, Canon Precentor

Lay members

Lay Canon Mark Constant
Lay Canon Amanda Davison-Young
Lay Canon Jackie Matthews
Lay Canon Phil Rolfe
Lay Canon Richard Tapp

You can read more about our Lay Chapter members here: Lay Chapter members

Further information

For further information about Chapter or to contact a member of the Cathedral clergy, please contact:

The Cathedral Office
01733 355315
​info@peterborough-cathedral.org.uk