January 20, 2020 8.59 am This story is over 50 months old

Lincoln Cathedral subdean steps down after eight years

He said recent turbulence impacted the decision
The Reverend Canon John Patrick. Photo: Steve Smailes for The Lincolnite

Lincoln Cathedral’s subdean has announced that he is stepping down from the role after eight years.

The Reverend Canon John Patrick took up the post in 2011 to replace the retiring Reverend Canon Alan Nugent.

When he announced his decision, John Patrick said that the turbulence at Lincoln Cathedral over the last year had influenced his decision.

It is another blow for the cathedral after the chancellor denied in court an alleged historical indecent assault on a female student.

The Reverend Dr Paul Overend is accused of grabbing a woman and kissing her at a party while he was a chaplain at Cardiff University in 1997.

Reverend Canon John Patrick told BBC Radio Lincolnshire that the ongoing investigation had an impact on his decision.

He said: “We are all subject to the world in which we live and whether that’s in a relationship, in a family or community what’s happening around us affects the decisions that we make.

“I think you’re always looking at what God is calling you to do and it’s not something that has happened overnight.

“This is a decision that I’ve been working on for quite a long time and God calls you to different places. I feel this is the right time for me to be called to do something different.

“While there have been, undoubtedly, challenges along the way, it has been wonderfully rewarding to be a part of the cathedral community.

“I treasure the time that I have spent here and the friendships made.”

The Lincolnite approached Lincoln Cathedral for a comment on the latest departure, but nobody was available at the time of writing.