Five new canons join Salisbury Cathedral’s College of Canons

During the Evensong service on Thursday, 18th June, five new canons were installed into the College of Canons at Salisbury Cathedral, by invitation of the Right Reverend Karen Gorham, Acting Bishop of Salisbury.

This included three non-residentiary canons and two lay canons from the wider Cathedral community.

The College of Canons is part of the Cathedral’s extended family and meets twice a year to provide feedback on policy decisions made by Chapter, the Cathedral’s governing body, and on Cathedral activities.

The Revd. Rebecca (Becky) Roberts takes her place in the Bricklesworth stall in the Cathedral Quire. Becky currently serves as Rural Dean of Salisbury and is the vicar of Harnham Parish in Salisbury. Prior to training for the priesthood, Becky worked as a teacher in East London, Tanzania and Hampshire.

Dr Olivia Chapple OBE is a former GP and Founder of Horatio’s Garden, the charity creating and nurturing beautiful and accessible garden projects in the heart of NHS spinal injury centres across the UK and named after her eldest son Horatio. Olivia served as the High Sheriff of Wiltshire in 2024/2025 and leads a peer support group for chairs of Wiltshire-based charities. She will take up the Maior Pars Altaris stall in the Presbytery of the Cathedral.

The Revd. Jonathan (Jon) Honour, taking up the Bedminster and Redcliffe stall, has, for the past 18 years, served as Vicar of Trinity Church in Guernsey, part of the wider Diocese of Salisbury. He also serves as Vice-Dean of the Guernsey Deanery. Prior to this, Jon served at parishes in Tonbridge and Woodley.

Jane McCormick has served as chair of the Salisbury Diocesan Board of Finance for the last five years and also serves on the audit and risk committee of the Archbishop’s Council. Jane previously worked for 30 years for the accounting firm KPMG, ending her career as a member of the firm’s global management team. She will take up the Minor Pars Altaris stall in the Presbytery.

The Revd. James Taylor is Lead Chaplain at University Hospitals Dorset NHS Foundation Trust, where he leads an ecumenical chaplaincy team providing pastoral, spiritual and religious care to patients, families and staff. James came to the Diocese of Salisbury in 2020 and served in hospital chaplaincy through the COVID-19 pandemic. He will take up the Wimborne stall in the Quire.

The Very Revd. Nicholas Papadopulos, DL, Dean of Salisbury, said, “These new appointments testify to the rich tapestry of the Cathedral’s life. We value very highly our relationships with the Diocese we serve, and look forward to strengthening our ties with the diverse interests, specialisms and concerns of our new Canons. Diligent parish ministry, healthcare chaplaincy, sound financial stewardship, local charities – all are included. Our new colleagues will advise us wisely, and represent us well.”