Video: New Dean unveiled at Ripon Cathedral

His appointment, announced yesterday, follows the death of the former Dean, Keith Jukes, who died last May. Shortly before he died Dean Jukes had written an announcement in which he disclosed he was unwell and tests had revealed a growth in his upper abdomen which doctors were convinced was cancerous.

The new Dean, 49, is currently vicar of Blackwell All Saints and Salutation and priest-in-charge of Coniscliffe.

He also serves as Area Dean of Darlington and is an Honorary Canon of Durham Cathedral. He was brought up in Swillington, near Leeds and after attending Garforth Comprehensive he went on to read theology at Durham University.

He said: “I’m delighted to be coming to Ripon: it’s both a huge privilege and a challenging responsibility – and it’s at a particularly exciting time as the new diocese of West Yorkshire and the Dales is born.

“My future colleagues at Ripon have done such a good job, sustaining the Cathedral’s life in a time of deep sadness following Keith Jukes’s untimely death. I look forward to working with them in taking the Cathedral forward to a new future as it works in partnership with the cathedrals of Bradford and Wakefield.”

Nick Baines, Bishop of Bradford and Bishop-designate of Leeds for the new Diocese of West Yorkshire and the Dales, said yesterday: “I warmly welcome the appointment of Canon John Dobson as the next Dean of Ripon.

“He will bring much wisdom and experience to this role as he joins with the rest of us in shaping the new Diocese of West Yorkshire and the Dales.”