New Dean of St Edmundsbury appointed

A new Dean of St Edmundsbury in Suffolk has been appointed.

The Revd Canon Dr Frances Ward will move from her role as Residentiary Canon and Canon Theologian at Bradford Cathedral on 16 October.

She succeeds the Very Revd Neil Collings who retired in August 2009 due to ill health.

Bishop of St Edmundsbury, the Rt Revd Nigel Stock said: "She is a person of real spiritual depth with an ability to relate well to all the communities."

Canon Ward said: "Suffolk holds real attractions for me.

"As a child I sailed the estuaries of Suffolk and North Essex, and will relish rediscovering this beautiful part of Britain, and serving the town of Bury St Edmunds and the diocese as Dean.

"The diocese and cathedral will celebrate their centenary in 2014, and already all sorts of ideas are shaping to make that a year to remember."