The Diocese of Bristol is delighted to announce that Richard Bacon, Rt Hon Sir Robert Buckland KBE KC MP, Revd Capt Clive Deverell, Revd Paul Langham, Catherine Price LLM and Liz Townend have been installed as new Honorary Cathedral Canons during services at Bristol Cathedral on 3 and 5 March. They join other lay and ordained members as part of the Cathedral’s College of Canons.
The College of Canons is carefully selected and appointed by the Bishop of Bristol, the Rt Revd Vivienne Faull to play an integral role in the governance of the Cathedral, supporting its mission and ministry, with a mandate to act as "ambassadors" in fostering connections with the wider diocese and its churches.
The Rt Revd Vivienne Faull, Bishop of Bristol said: “I am pleased that this group of exceptional individuals, who have dedicated their time, effort, and talents to providing Christian leadership and service in our diocese, are joining Bristol Cathedral’s College of Canons. Their contributions have been invaluable, and they truly embody the diocesan and Cathedral’s values of openness, generosity, creativity and bravery. I am confident that their vast experience and unique perspectives will enrich the College of Canons and enable us to achieve our vision of humanity reconciled and creation restored.”
The Very Revd Dr Mandy Ford, Dean of Bristol said: “We are delighted that these talented people, who have served their communities and our diocese in such rich and varied ways, are joining our College of Canons. We look forward to gaining from their wisdom and insights as together we seek to follow Jesus, serve others and transform lives, both in the Cathedral and the wider diocese.”
New Honorary Canons bios
Richard Bacon: Richard, his wife Joanna and their three children have lived in Bristol since university days. On arriving in Bristol, Richard became a choral scholar in the Cathedral Choir, and continues to sing occasionally as a deputy. He is Chair of the Cathedral Choral Foundation and of Chair of the Bristol Diocesan Board of Finance. He recently completed five years of involvement at Llandaff Cathedral as Chair of Finance and then Chapter Clerk. He works in education and science, currently as Chair of Governors at UWE, as a member of the Cathedral Schools Trust and as Chair of the Audit Committee at the Royal Society.
Rt Hon Sir Robert Buckland KBE KC MP: Robert was born in Llanelli, Wales, Robert graduated in Law at Hatfield College, Durham University in 1990. He was called to the Bar at Inner Temple in 1991 and was an advocacy prize winner, spending nearly twenty years in practice, specialising in criminal litigation. In 2009, Robert was appointed as a part-time Crown Court Circuit Judge, serving until his appointment to Government.
Since his election as MP for South Swindon in 2010, Robert has served as Solicitor General between 2014 and 2019 and Lord Chancellor from 2019 till 2021. He is Chair of the Northern Ireland Affairs Select Committee and a Senior Fellow of the Mossovar-Rahmani Center for Business and Government at the Harvard Kennedy School.
Robert regularly attends church services in his constituency and has championed their fundraising work and community support networks. He is a keen performer of choral music and a member of the parliamentary choir.
Revd Capt Clive Deverell: Clive has been commissioned as a Church Army Evangelist since 1986. Following ordination in Peterborough in 2007 and serving his curacy in the city , Clive moved to West Swindon and Lydiard Tregoze in 2010 where he is Vicar. Clive is currently part of the Diocesan Advisory Committee, a Vocational Chaplain and a mentor. In the past he served as a former Area Dean of Swindon. In West Swindon, he has had oversight of the conservation of the beautiful St Mary's Lydiard Tregoze and Holy Trinity Shaw where installing Solar Panels in conjunction with the local authority helps in our commitment to net zero. In a wider context Clive serves as a trustee on the Church Visitors and Tourism Association.
Revd Paul Langham: Paul has been vicar of Christ Church with Emmanuel Clifton since 2010. A member of General Synod, he also serves as a member of the National Leadership Team for New Wine, and chairs our Diocesan Evangelical Fellowship. Married to Jackie, with four children and four grandchildren, he is a keen walker, tennis player and photographer. He counts it a very great honour to be invited to join the College of Canons of our ancient Cathedral Church.
Catherine Price LLM: Catherine was Licensed as a Lay Minister in 2012 after completing a Certificate of Theology at Trinity College, Bristol. She ministers in the Malmesbury and Upper Avon Group. She served as Sub-Warden of Readers for North Wiltshire Deanery and on the Diocesan Council for Lay Ministry for nearly 10 years, and chaired the Planning Team for two Lay Ministry Conferences. She has been a member of her Deanery Leadership Team and Diocesan Synod. In 2016 she helped to establish the Community of St Aldhelm, a new monastic community in a parish church setting, at Malmesbury Abbey. She worked as Mission Enabler for the North Wiltshire Mission Area between January 2020 and October 2023.
Liz Townend: The Diocese of Bristol is a wonderfully diverse area and I am honoured to be a canon to help in service here. I worship and churchwarden in a rural parish and enjoy the buzz of village life that leads to deep, sustaining relationships. I am very proud to be the Director of Education leading the Education team supporting schools in the diocese. The work enables us to cherish our school communities, encouraging an enduring and vibrant Christian presence in every church school, linking to local churches and loving the families for whom we care.