The Right Reverend Dr Jonathan Frost, formerly Bishop Suffragan of Southampton, was today installed as the 76th Dean of York at a service of Choral Evensong at York Minster. The new Dean of York succeeds the Very Reverend Dr Vivienne Faull who was consecrated Bishop of Bristol in July 2018.
In the first of three ceremonies today, the Archbishop of York, Dr John Sentamu, collated and licensed Jonathan for his ministry as Dean.
The second ceremony took place in the Chapter House. In an ancient ritual dating back to the Middle Ages, Jonathan was admitted as a member of Chapter, the Minster’s governing body. Letters Patent from Her Majesty the Queen were read and oaths were sworn on the 1000 year-old York Gospels.
Jonathan was formally received into the Chapter of York by the Canon-in-Residence, The Revd Canon Michael Smith, Canon Pastor. He was then placed in his seat by The Revd Canon Peter Moger, Acting Dean of York, at which point Jonathan officially became Dean of York.
The final ceremony took place at the end of a procession into Evensong when Jonathan was placed in his stall in the Minster’s Quire. Jonathan then emerged from the Quire into the Minster’s Nave where he was formally presented to the congregation as Dean of York.
Jonathan’s daughter Hannah read one of the bible passages. Representatives from the City of York, the County of North Yorkshire, the Church of England’s Northern Province and members of the Minster’s community and staff also took part in the service.
Following the sermon by the Archbishop of York, prayers were read by students from four local schools: the Minster School; Archbishop Holgate’s School; Manor Church of England Academy and St Peter’s School.
Commenting on his new role, Dean Jonathan said:
“I am honoured to have been called to serve in this beautiful place. I have received a very warm and generous welcome and I look forward to serving the community, the city and the wider diocese of York.”