St Edmundsbury Cathedral honours five men and women during special service

Several people have been honoured for their contributions to the life of a cathedral, diocese and the wider community.

A special presentation service was held at St Edmundsbury Cathedral in Bury St Edmunds on Sunday.

Among the five men and women recognised for their ‘exemplary and unusual service’ was Lady Clare Euston, Lord-Lieutenant of Suffolk, who was awarded the Order of St Edmund — the highest accolade the cathedral can give.

Lady Clare has become the 20th recipient of this award bestowed by Right Rev Martin Seeley, Bishop of St Edmundsbury and Ipswich.

It is the final one presented before his retirement in February.

He said: “Lady Clare is the most remarkable Lord Lieutenant for our beloved county, and in my ten years of serving, she has been for me a wise counsellor and trusted friend. I am honoured.”

Also at the service, three senior clergy - Rev Robert Otule, vicar at All Saints Church in Newmarket, Rev Chris Davey, rector at Framlingham with Saxtead Benefice & Rural Dean, Rev Alison Alder, associate priest at Blyth Valley Benefice - and one lay person, Graham Mothersole, were installed as canons of the cathedral.

The title is bestowed to those who have given particular service to the diocese.

Mr Mothersole, a husband and a father of four, has lived his entire life in Suffolk, with 44 years of those in Great Barton, where his family roots span over five generations.

He joined a construction business, which specialises in the refurbishment of listed buildings and the construction of bespoke homes in and around Bury St Edmunds, after college.

Meanwhile, Rev Dr Victoria Johnson was installed as the cathedral’s new visiting canon theologian.

Dr Johnson was a canon precentor at York Minster, where she oversaw the musical and worshipping life.

Prior to this, she was a residentiary canon at Ely Cathedral and a priest at the Diocese of Manchester.

She is currently a member of the divinity faculty at the University of Cambridge, which specialises in homiletics and liturgy; mission theology and apologetics; science and religion; music and the arts.

Rev Joe Hawes, dean at the cathedral, said: “The College of Canons, Order of St Edmund and our Canon Theologian play an integral part in our cathedral life and without faithful and thoughtful people like these, we would not serve the community of Suffolk as broadly and thoroughly.”