The Rev Canon Dr Stephen Evans has been appointed as the new Dean of Southwell.

For the last 16 years, Dr Evans has been rector of St Marylebone in central London and before that served as the rector of Uppingham and the Rural Dean of Rutland.

“It is a great joy to have been asked by Bishop Paul to become the next Dean of Southwell and to be returning to the East Midlands,” he said.

“I am indebted to the Rev Canon Dr Neil Evans, who has brought so much to the cathedral and chapter through his time as interim dean and I am looking forward to working alongside my minster colleagues and the congregation in proclaiming the hope-filled message of God’s healing and reconciling love, throughout the county, city, towns and villages of Nottinghamshire and beyond.”

The Bishop of Southwell and Nottingham, the Rt Rev Paul Williams, added: “I know that Stephen will bring considerable experience, wisdom and vision for the further development of the minster. We are thrilled he will be taking on this senior role in the diocese at a time of exciting growth and development, as we seek to make a bigger difference in every community.”

A former midshipman at the Royal Naval College, Dartmouth, Stephen was born in Wales. Prior to ordination, he was a navigator and warfare officer in the Royal Navy, read theology at the University of Oxford, and undertook postgraduate studies at the University of Aberdeen. He was ordained as a priest in Scotland in 1986 and has spent two years working with the Mission to Seamen.

He is married to Diana Evans, head of Places of Worship at Historic England. Having read English at Somerville College, Oxford, Diana went on to read theology at St Stephen’s House, Oxford, being the first women admitted to the theological college for training.

The couple were married at Sherborne Abbey in Dorset where Diana, in her role of deaconess, was the senior assistant curate within a large team.

Stephen will be installed as the Dean of Southwell at choral evensong in Southwell Minster on 19th April.

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