Coventry Cathedral bids farewell to The Very Rev'd John Irvine ...

To: Newsdesk From: Christine Doyle
Date: 23 rd July 2012 Tel: 024 7652 1226/07769 738180
Coventry Cathedral bids farewell to The Very Rev’d
John Irvine, Dean of Coventry
On Sunday 29 th July, The Very Rev’d John Irvine will lead the Cathedral
community in worship for the final time. John and his wife Andrea are leaving
Coventry to join the team at Holy Trinity at Cambridge where John will be
Associate Minister.
“I feel very privileged to serve here at the Cathedral and am delighted to have such a gifted
team who work so well together,” commented John Irvine. “I am confident that, with the
support of our Bishop and with so many committed and faithful members of this community,
there is an exciting future for Coventry.”
During the past ten years, John has overseen many changes at the Cathedral, including the
weekly ‘Cathedral Praise’ service which adds contemporary worship to the existing services
and has resulted in the Cathedral community steadily increasing.
The Bishop of Coventry, The Right Reverend Doctor Christopher Cocksworth added his
own thoughts on the past few years, “One of my great joys as Bishop of Coventry has been
to work alongside the dynamic and innovative ministry of John Irvine, the Dean of Coventry.
Having served our Cathedral and Diocese since 2001, John has decided to move on to a final
post before his retirement from full-time ministry at Holy Trinity, Cambridge where his
considerable gifts as preacher and evangelist will be put to great use among its student and
other congregations.”
The Revd Canon Tim Pullen, Sub Dean and Canon Pastor paid his own tribute by saying “As
Dean of Coventry, John has made a tremendous contribution to the development of the life
and ministry of the Cathedral. He has also been engaged in significant ways in the City of
Coventry, the Diocese and internationally through the Community of the Cross of Nails.
John and Andrea will be greatly missed.”
The process for appointing a new Dean is underway.
-ends-
For press enquiries, please contact Christine Doyle on 024 7652 1226 or 07769 738180.
Notes to Editor

Coventry Cathedral
2012 is the year that Coventry Cathedral is celebrating its Golden Jubilee - a landmark
occasion recognising 50 years of service to Coventry's community and the world, both
through its unique international mission of peace and reconciliation, and as a cultural centre
for the performing arts.
For 50 years, the cathedral has been a dynamic centre of worship and mission, a place of
pilgrimage, liturgical creativity, and healing; a focus for reconciliation locally, nationally and
internationally; for education and the arts; a venue for national services and television and
radio broadcasts; and a focal point for the City, the region, and even for the world.
The Very Reverend John Irvine MA
Dean of Coventry
John Irvine, son of the late Rt. Hon Sir Arthur Irvine QC, MP and Lady Irvine, started
his career in law, practicing at the Bar until 1979, when he changed his life path to
follow his calling to ordination and attended Oxford University to read Theology. In
1981 he was ordained deacon and served at Holy Trinity Brompton for four years
where he helped to establish the 10 week Alpha Course. This is a short practical
introduction to the Christian faith that has now spread all over the world. He led the
first “church plant” from HTB in 1985 to St Barnabas, Kensington where he was
Vicar for 16 years.
He was appointed Dean of Coventry and Dean of the Community of the Cross of
Nails (CCN) in 2001 where, as the leader of the worshipping community at
Coventry Cathedral, John is responsible for vision, mission and outreach. He has a
high profile role within the City of Coventry and, as a member of the Bishop’s staff;
he also has a clear Diocesan role. The CCN role presents an international platform
through which John promotes the Cathedral as an International Centre of
Reconciliation, something he believes is ‘God’s thumbprint’ on the Cathedral, an
essential element of its DNA.
He is married to Andrea (also ordained). They have 4 grown up children and 6
grandchildren so far! His hobbies include chess, film and reading historical fiction.
John and the whole family are firm supporters of Tottenham Hotspur!