Former Rector John Mann receives Lambeth Cross | |||
Our former rector the Revd John Mann, has been
awarded The Lambeth Cross by the Archbishop of Canterbury for his
ecumenical work in Belfast.
The Award Citation reads as follows:
The Very Reverend John Mann – The Lambeth Cross for
Ecumenism, for courageous and visionary leadership which affirmed
diversity, fostered healing and made Belfast Cathedral a place of
welcome as a sacred, civic space at the heart of a divided city. The Awards, launched by Archbishop Welby in 2016, recognise outstanding service in different fields, including those of the Archbishop’s ministry priorities of prayer and the Religious life; reconciliation and peacebuilding; and evangelism and witness.
Christians from Africa, the Far East and the UK were
among the recipients of the 2018 Lambeth Awards presented by the
Archbishop of Canterbury. |
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The Lambeth Cross
awarded to Revd John Mann. |
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After leaving St John's John was Dean of Belfast from 2011 until he left in September 2017 to take up the post of team rector of the Parish of Swanage with Studland. John Mann’s six-year tenure as Dean of Belfast was marked by building relationships and fostering a sense of community within the regular congregation. In 2017 he installed the first Roman Catholic priest as an ecumenical canon, alongside previously installed Presbyterian and Methodist ministers. The Choir School initiative was his vision, in partnership with three north Belfast schools (one Protestant, one Catholic and one integrated). The cathedral music department takes responsibility for teaching music in the schools and identifies boys and girls who are then trained to sing the services in the choirs of the cathedral. They attend practice in the context of an after-school homework club. |
Belfast Cathedral became a focus for civic events and as a sacred civic
space benefited from the patience, grace and leadership of John Mann.
Over his tenure as dean John Mann raised over a million pounds for local
charities through his pre-Christmas (Black Santa) sit-out for charity.
In February 2017, at the Good Samaritan Service, the Dean distributed
£230,000 – the largest sum raised to date, passing the target by some
£30,000.
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