News

DEAN’S VICAR at BELFAST CATHEDRAL

 For 2024

The Dean of Belfast seeks to appoint a colleague in priest’s orders with a minimum of 2 years fulltime stipendiary experience to take up the position of DEAN’S VICAR at St Anne’s Cathedral Belfast in early 2024.

This exciting post will suit a person who combines a passion for outreach and the ability to relate well to people in pastoral, civic and ecumenical settings; along with organisational ability and a level of choral and liturgical experience.

With a city centre location and the arrival of a large student population at the Ulster University Belfast Campus, this position offers opportunities to develop the outreach potential of the cathedral for new city centre ministries. These outreach opportunities will be developed alongside supporting the Dean in the daily life, witness and ministry of the cathedral parish.

The Dean’s Vicar is licensed in the Diocese of Connor as Curate Assistant to the Cathedral Parish of St Anne, Belfast. The Dean’s Vicar will be answerable to the Dean, who as line manager will give direction and oversight in the role of Dean’s Vicar in the life of Belfast Cathedral.

It is usual for the Dean’s Vicar to be installed as a Canon of the Cathedral Chapter of St Anne, Belfast, and to act as Chapter Clerk.

Stipend

Stipend at current Diocesan Bishop’s Curate rate, with Locomotory and Office Allowances. An enhancement may be applied to a candidate with significant previous ordained experience.

The cathedral will provide a suitable “Vicarage” or a Housing Allowance, depending on circumstances.

Key areas of work and ministry.

The Dean’s Vicar works alongside the Dean to assist him in the daily life and ministry of Belfast Cathedral. This can be summarised under the headings of Worship, Community and Outreach. In this regard the ministry of the Dean’s Vicar falls within a number of key areas:

Worship

• Under the direction of the Dean, and with input from the Music Department, preparation for and delivery of Cathedral Services: from regular Sunday Services to services for a wide range of memorial and celebratory occasions, some of national and international significance. This will include responsibility for the planning and preparing of services and service rotas, involvement with digital and other publicity, and the organisation of visitors, clergy, dignitaries and participants for major services, including the ability to deal with the unexpected!
• Under the Dean’s direction, and in partnership with the Music Department to build relationship with and provide a pastoral support to the members of the Cathedral Choristers’ Choirs and their parents, both at times of rehearsal and on Sundays. Also to build relationship and provide pastoral support to the members of the Cathedral Adult Choir, and foster integration into the life of the cathedral family.

Community

• Pastoral Visiting across the greater Belfast area and beyond to the 100 households that make up the Cathedral Parish family, and pastoral care at times of illness and bereavement. Monthly services in Clifton House and Clifton Nursing Home. When called upon, to offer a pastoral ministry to tourists and visitors at the cathedral, with appropriate ministry or signposting to those with social needs who may find their way to the cathedral.
• To assist with the administrative preparation for, and participation with, the “Dean of Belfast’s Annual Black Santa Sit-out” for Charity, and to assist with the distribution process and annual “Good Samaritans’ Service.
• To co-ordinate cathedral volunteer teams eg Cathedral Stewards, Cathedral Readers, Sunday Service Rotas.

Outreach

• To develop new Cathedral Ministries of Outreach to those who live and those who work in the city centre
• To work in partnership with the University Chaplaincy Teams at Ulster University, Queen’s University and Belfast Metropolitan College to develop ministries of outreach at the cathedral which serve local and overseas students living and studying near to the cathedral.
• With the Cathedral’s Outreach Committee to develop ministries of outreach to visitors to the cathedral (both local visitors and tourists).
• To assist the Dean and Board in the development of the cathedral’s “Centre for Acknowledgement, Learning and Memory (CALM)” called “Voices of the Troubles”, addressing the legacies of “The Troubles”

The Cathedral’s current pattern of Sunday and Weekday Worship:

Sundays

11.00am          Cathedral Choral Eucharist (BCP Order II) with sermon

With full cathedral choir (Adults / Choristers)

3.30pm           Cathedral Choral Evensong (BCP Order I) without sermon

With full cathedral choir (Adults / Choristers)

Weekdays

1.00-1.15pm    Lunchtime Cathedral Prayers

(Wednesday Holy Communion/ Friday Service of Healing)

(Proposed – 5.30pm Friday Choral Evensong from January 2024)

It is usual for the Dean’s Vicar to be installed as a Canon of the Cathedral Chapter of St Anne, Belfast, and to act as Chapter Clerk. The appointment of Dean’s Vicar will be as Curate Assistant to the Cathedral Parish of St Anne, Belfast.

The following Criteria apply to the post of Dean’s Vicar:

Essential Criteria

• Ordained in Priest’s Orders for a minimum of two years in fulltime stipendiary ministry.
• Experience and enthusiasm for Anglican liturgical worship
• A level of choral or musical experience and ability
• A care for people and experience in a range of pastoral ministries
• An enthusiasm and ability in preaching
• Experience and enthusiasm for Mission or Outreach within or beyond parish ministry.
• Ability in organisation and planning
• A committed prayer life, self-awareness and personal integrity.
• Current valid Driving Licence.

Desirable Criteria

• Experience in relating to children and teenagers (Applicable in the Development of the Cathedral Choristers Choirs of children)
• Experience of ministry with Students / Young adults (Applicable in the Development of Student Ministry at cathedral in partnership with University Chaplains)
• Experience of workplace ministry / or previous workplace experience (Applicable in the Development of City Centre Ministry)
• Experience of Reconciliation work / ministry (Applicable in the Development of the Centre for Acknowledgment and Memory to the Northern Ireland Troubles)
• Experience in Ministry in situations of Social Deprivation / Homelessness / Addiction.
• Experience in the wider use of music / art / drama in worship contexts.

To apply for this position:

Please e-mail The Very Revd Stephen Forde at dean@belfastcathedral.org requesting application details.

CLOSING DATE FOR APPLICATIONS 4pm Friday 12th January, 2024.

Application will be by CV and accompanying short Application Form demonstrating skills and experience relevant to this position

For further information on the life of Belfast Cathedral, and the Cathedral's Mission Statement please see below: