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I was installed on 28 April and am responsible for governing and directing the life and work of Worcester Cathedral, working with the rest of the Cathedral Chapter (which consists of the three
residentiary canons and the two lay canons).

Before becoming Dean, I was a Residentiary Canon and Chancellor of Chichester Cathedral.

In my career, I have also been a vicar in a number of different parishes and Principal of Chichester Theological College.

I was born in Tunbridge Wells in 1952 and am married with three children. I studied theology at St. John's College, Oxford and was ordained deacon in 1979 and priest in 1980.

Dean's Diary

THERE was an unusual buzz of excitement in the little town of Greccio in Italy in the days before Christmas 1223.

Very Rev Peter Atkinson - Dean's Diary

SHOULD politicians ‘do God’? There’s no doubt about that in the United States, where the presidential candidates are expected to prove their religious credentials.

Dean's Diary

WULFSTAN is one of the heroes of Worcester. Born exactly 1,000 years ago, he was a monk who became Bishop of Worcester, and served through the turbulent reigns of the last two Saxon kings and the first two Norman ones.

Dean's Diary

HERE’S a true story. A boy got some headphones for Christmas. They cost £24.99. A few months later, they fell to pieces.

Dean's Diary

It seems silly to talk about Christmas, although the weather might suggest we are in late autumn rather than early summer. But why not?

Dean's Diary

I have had a protest about the Three Choirs Festival. Someone (living a hundred miles away from Worcestershire) is outraged that I will allow a concert of British film music in the cathedral.

DEAN'S DIARY

Thursday of this week is called Corpus Christi in the Christian calendar. ‘Corpus Christi’ means ‘the body of Christ’, and it is a day when some Christians remember how at his Last Supper Jesus broke bread for his disciples saying, “This is my body” and gave them wine saying, “This is my blood”. That is the basis of the celebration of Holy Communion, in which Christians believe that Jesus continues to feed them with his body and blood in the bread and wine, which they receive in remembrance of him.

Dean's Diary

Church schools are in the news again, with doubts being cast on the rigour of their admissions policies. In my experience of a number of Church of England schools in different parts of the country, I have always found that they administer their admissions policies carefully and conscientiously, balancing the requirements of their Christian foundation with the needs of the local community. There is, of course, only controversy about church school admissions policies at the moment because so many are over-subscribed; and that is what those who dislike church schools on principle find it hard to stomach.

Dean's Diary

WE are coming up to the holiest time of the year as far as Christians are concerned. People of other faiths may be interested in what makes Holy Week special for Christians.

Dean's Diary

Thirty-four years ago a service was held in Worcester Cathedral to mark the end of Worcestershire County Council. Twenty-four years later Worcestershire once again became an administrative county.

Dean's Diary

The BBC has been in Worcester Cathedral, televising the services on Christmas Eve and Christmas morning. Their professionalism, patience and good humour made them a delight to work with, and the massive BBC vans parked for days outside the cathedral were a splendid advertisement for our Christmas services.

Dean's Diary

“Coming up to your busy time!” people say to me kindly, as Christmas gets nearer.

Dean's Diary

I have been at Walsingham in Norfolk, speaking to Army and Navy chaplains. Fine people they are, working alongside the troops and sharing the rigours and dangers of life in the armed forces. I learnt more from them than they did from me.

Dean of Worcester

I can’t remember whether I saw real poppies in the fields and hedgerows when I was a child. I do remember when there were none to be seen, because of the fertilisers used on the fields, and I certainly remember when they began to

Dean's Diary

Worcester Cathedral is a fine sight from many different directions.

Dean's Diary

Churches are celebrating harvest festivals.

Dean's Diary

I have been at the hairdresser’s, waiting my turn for a trim with small boys who have come to be tidied up for the start of the school year. Deans also need tidying up after a couple of weeks’ holiday.

DEAN'S DIARY

I once knew a secretary who wrote the minutes of committee meetings in advance. Even if the meetings didn’t go the way he wanted, at least the record of them did. I feel a bit like that, writing my ‘diary’ early, so that I can start my holidays and still meet the editor’s deadline. Sometimes I think I would like to write my whole life’s story in advance. Life, however, like committees, has a habit of taking us in unexpected directions.

Dean's Diary

Words by the Christian poet

Dean of Worcester Cathedral

We’ve reached the end of the school year. The Cathedral has hosted a service and prizegiving for the Alice Ottley School and the annual King’s Day.