Cathedral Chapter

Chapter is the governing body of the Cathedral and is responsible for all aspects of its life and mission. Its members consist of the Dean, three residentiary canons (a senior member of the clergy connected to the Cathedral) two honorary canons and four lay members (experienced members of the wider community who are not ordained)

The Very Reverend Peter Howell-Jones, Dean of Blackburn: As Senior Priest within the Diocese of Blackburn, Peter is a member of the Bishop’s Leadership Team and is responsible for the oversight and leadership of Blackburn Cathedral.  Prior to ordination Peter held a senior position in a private sector company arranging tours for musicians worldwide.  He is currently on the Board of a number of national Charities and Chair of Medic Malawi delivering partnership support in the areas of health care, education, and sustainable community projects. Peter is married to Siân and they have four grown up children.

Gary O’Neill: is the Canon Precentor.  He is an adult educator and trainer who has taught liturgy, pastoral care and theological reflection in three different dioceses for over 35 years.    Gary spent ten years as the Canon Liturgist at Birmingham Cathedral from 1997-2007 before he moved to his most previous post in the Diocese of Chester, training Ordinands and Readers.  He is married to Christine who is a licensed Reader.

James Lawrence: is the Canon Missioner. Before moving to Blackburn in December 2022, James was the Assistant Priest at an Episcopal Church in New York. James has experience in growing churches and in organisational transformation. James is currently working on his PhD at the University of Oxford, he is writing a theology of technology. He has previously served as a trustee for a homeless charity based in Leeds. James is married to Hannah, and they have one son.

Marion McClintock, MBE: is a parishioner of Lancaster Priory.  She is the former Academic Registrar of the University of Lancaster, and currently Honorary Archivist and Honorary University Fellow.  She is also Honorary General Secretary of the Cumberland and Westmorland Antiquarian and Archaeological Society, founded in 1866.

Keith Roberts: has been involved with the cathedral for ten years, initially as parent of a chorister, more latterly as a member of the Cathedral Chapter.  He is married to Helen, and they have three (now grown up) boys.  He trained as a Chartered Accountant, qualifying back in 1985 and presently senior partner with a local firm of accountants based in Ribchester.

Elizabeth Alton: worships at St Wilfrid’s Ribchester. Her previous appointments include: a Housing Association for Homeless men leaving prison, an International Charity for the disabled, and the NHS. In a voluntary capacity she is Vice President of the Tristan da Cunha Association. She also teaches English to sanctuary seekers in Blackburn and Preston.

Andrew Horsfall: is the Chaplaincy and Bereavement Care Manager at East Lancashire Hospitals NHS Trust where he has been since 2005.  Between 2016 and 2020 he was a Residentiary Canon and Canon Pastor at Blackburn Cathedral.  He continues to serve the Cathedral, leading the Pastoral Care Team.  Andrew is County Chaplain to the Order of St John and St John Ambulance; The Order of St Lazarus and a Chaplain to the Royal British Legion.

David Gascoigne: is a Chartered Accountant and was a partner at KPMG for 26 years before retiring in 2022.  He is a member of the Finance Committee of The Blackburn Diocesan Board of Finance; Deputy Chair and trustee of Keswick Ministries and a governor and Chair of the Finance Committee at Blackpool Sixth Form College.  David is a Lay-Canon at Blackburn Cathedral and a Licensed Lay-Minister at St Chad's Church, Poulton-Le-Fylde, where he is a member of the PCC and a home group bible-study leader.  David is married to Lee and they have three grown-up daughters.  

Ian White: is the Chapter Clerk. He has a background of private and public sector roles in education, training and economic development. He has worked in various locations across the world, most recently in Brussels. He was Chair of the House of Laity for the Diocese of Cyprus and the Gulf and has been a member of the Foundation at Canterbury Cathedral for 40 years. As a former Lay Clerk, Ian enjoys singing and music making of all kinds.