Stephen Edwards (priest)

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Stephen Edwards
Dean of Worcester
Church Church of England
Diocese Worcester
In officeSeptember 2024 – present
Predecessor Peter Atkinson
Orders
Ordination1996 (deacon)
1997 (priest)
Personal details
Born
Stephen Michael Edwards

(1972-07-05) 5 July 1972 (age 53)
Denomination Anglicanism
Alma mater

Stephen Michael Edwards (born 5 July 1972) is a British Anglican priest. Since 2024, he has served as Dean of Worcester.

Contents

Life and career

Edwards was born on 5 July 1972 in Shrewsbury. He attended Darland High School and Yale College, Wrexham. [1] He was educated at Lancaster University and Anglia Ruskin University, and trained at Westcott House, Cambridge. [1] [2] He served as a curate in the parish of Colwyn Bay in the Diocese of St Asaph, and was ordained priest in 1997. In 1999, he became Priest-in-Charge of Bryn-y-Maen. In 2002, he became Priest-in-Charge at St Agnes' Church, Longsight, in the Diocese of Manchester. [a] In 2012, he became Team Rector of Wythenshawe, additionally becoming Area Dean of Withington in 2013. [2]

In 2016 he obtained the degree of Doctor of Practical Theology at the University of Manchester. [1] His thesis, titled "A Critical Exploration of the Ministry of a White Priest within a Black-Majority Congregation", reflects on his ministry at St Agnes', Longsight. [3]

In 2019, he was appointed Residentiary Canon at Worcester Cathedral, becoming Vice-Dean in 2021, and was appointed interim Dean of Worcester on the retirement of Peter Atkinson in 2023. His permanent appointment as Dean was then announced on 17 June 2024. [2] He was installed as Dean on 15 September. [4]

Notes

  1. ↑ In full, he was Priest-in-Charge of St Agnes, Birch-in-Rusholme, with St John with St Cyprian Longsight, but the churches of St John and St Cyprian have long been closed.

References

  1. 1 2 3 "Edwards, Very Rev. Dr Stephen Michael" . Who's Who . A & C Black.(Subscription or UK public library membership required.)
  2. 1 2 3 "Appointment of Dean of Worcester: 17 June 2024". UK Government. 17 June 2024. Retrieved 17 July 2025.
  3. ↑ Edwards, Stephen (31 December 2016). "A Critical Exploration of the Ministry of a White Priest within a Black-Majority Congregation". The University of Manchester. Retrieved 29 July 2025.
  4. ↑ "Stephen Edwards installed as Dean". Church of England Diocese of Worcester. 16 September 2024. Retrieved 17 July 2025.
Church of England titles
Preceded by Dean of Worcester
2024–
incumbent