on Wednesday, 1 October 2025 at 11.49 am by Peter Owen
categorised as Church of England, News
The Very Reverend John Witcombe, the Dean of Coventry, has announced that he is to retire on 31 May 2026.
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Jane Charman
22 days ago
I don’t know John Witcombe but as I’m aware that being a cathedral dean is now one of the toughest gigs in the Church of England and harder in a number of ways than being a bishop I would like to take this opportunity to thank him for his ministry and wish him a happy retirement.
I am not sure there are any easy gigs for C of E clergy anymore, although a friend reckoned that the Mastership of the Temple was the last sinecure left.
As a former Dean myself I can only endorse this and im delighted that it’s becoming clearer more widely that Cathedrals are very challenging places to serve and lead. As one former Dean of St Paul’s used to say, “This impossible job”.
Simon W
22 days ago
Feels like there’s a slightly eery calm before the ‘storm’ on this forum, in advance of what we know is coming tomorrow morning.
The moderators will be very busy in a few hours!
The fact that there is going to be an announcement is quite an achievement.
Nicholas Henshall
21 days ago
John has been an excellent Dean, just as he was as a trainer of ordinands and much more. Someone who has always worn his office with a real sense of humour and grace.
I don’t know John Witcombe but as I’m aware that being a cathedral dean is now one of the toughest gigs in the Church of England and harder in a number of ways than being a bishop I would like to take this opportunity to thank him for his ministry and wish him a happy retirement.
I am not sure there are any easy gigs for C of E clergy anymore, although a friend reckoned that the Mastership of the Temple was the last sinecure left.
As a former Dean myself I can only endorse this and im delighted that it’s becoming clearer more widely that Cathedrals are very challenging places to serve and lead. As one former Dean of St Paul’s used to say, “This impossible job”.
Feels like there’s a slightly eery calm before the ‘storm’ on this forum, in advance of what we know is coming tomorrow morning.
The moderators will be very busy in a few hours!
The fact that there is going to be an announcement is quite an achievement.
John has been an excellent Dean, just as he was as a trainer of ordinands and much more. Someone who has always worn his office with a real sense of humour and grace.