On Wednesday April 30 four new canons were admitted at Salisbury Cathedral during Evensong.

Sir Hayden Phillips, Robert Key MP, Madeleine, Lady Bessborough and Mrs Jane Barker accepted an invitation from the Bishop of Salisbury to be made as Lay Canons of the Cathedral.

The service was conducted by the Bishop of Salisbury, The Rt Revd Dr David Stancliffe.

Canons are allocated a stall in the quire of the Cathedral and, to accommodate the maximum number of Canons, the Cathedral has recently named an additional twelve stalls after centres of population in the current Diocese.

The new Canons are the first holders of four of these stalls. Sir Hayden Phillips will occupy Marlborough', Robert Key Salisbury', Madeleine Bessborough Amesbury' and Jane Barker Bridport', all joining what is known as the College of Canons'.

Established in 2001, this body includes both Clerical and Lay Canons and meets twice a year. The College helps to provide feedback to the Cathedral on its activities and to inform the policy decisions of the Chapter.

It also provides an opportunity for the Cathedral to recognise its role in the wider Diocesan counties of Wiltshire and Dorset.

The Very Revd June Osborne, Dean of Salisbury said: "We are very much looking forward to welcoming these new members to our midst when they join the College of Canons.

"They are highly respected in their own fields and they are already valued members of the Cathedral community. They bring very particular skills and insights to our life.

"Now they will contribute considerably to helping the Cathedral engage in dialogue with the widest range of opinions and organisations spread throughout the Diocese."

10:52am Tuesday 6th May 2008

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