Jane Barbara Hedges (born 6 April 1956) is a British

Anglican Anglicanism is a Western Christian tradition that has developed from the practices, liturgy, and identity of the Church of England following the English Reformation, in the context of the Protestant Reformation in Europe. It is one of th ...

priest. Considered a "trailblazer for women in the priesthood",Mark Nicholls, "Jane Hedges: A trailblazer for women in the priesthood", ''Eastern Daily Press''
16 April 2022. Retrieved 15 June 2022. she served as Dean of Norwich from 2014 to 2022 and was appointed Acting Dean of Canterbury from June 2022 until December 2022.

Early life and education

Hedges grew up in Hampshire and was educated at Sarisbury Secondary School, leaving at the age of 16. After a year of college, she began working as a junior bank clerk when she felt the call to ordination. She continued her education with a general studies degree at the University of Durham, where she was a member of St John's College, Durham, graduating with a Bachelor of Arts (BA) degree in 1978. She trained for ministry at

Cranmer Hall, Durham Cranmer Hall is a Church of England theological college based at Durham, England. Cranmer Hall forms part of St John's College, Durham which is a recognised college of Durham University. It stands in the Open Evangelical tradition. Cranmer Hall ...

from 1978 to 1980.

Career

Hedges felt called to the priesthood since the age of 17, at a time when women were not allowed to become priests She became made a deaconess in 1980 and, as Church of England laws on the ministry of women evolved, her career progressed with her ordination as deacon in 1987 and as priest in 1994. Hedges served as curate of the parish of Holy Trinity with St Columba in

Fareham Fareham ( ) is a market town at the north-west tip of Portsmouth Harbour, between the cities of Portsmouth and Southampton in south east Hampshire, England. It gives its name to the Borough of Fareham. It was historically an important manufact ...

, Hampshire, from 1980 to 1983 and was a team vicar in Southampton from 1983 to 1988. In 1988 she became Stewardship Adviser in the Diocese of Portsmouth and in 1993 was appointed

Canon Residentiary A canon (from the Latin , itself derived from the Greek , , "relating to a rule", "regular") is a member of certain bodies in subject to an ecclesiastical rule. Originally, a canon was a cleric living with others in a clergy house or, later, i ...

Portsmouth Cathedral The Cathedral Church of St Thomas of Canterbury, commonly known as Portsmouth Cathedral, is an Anglican cathedral church in the centre of Old Portsmouth in Portsmouth, England. It is the cathedral of the Diocese of Portsmouth and the seat of ...

. From 2001 she served in the team ministry of Honiton in the Diocese of Exeter, including as rural dean. In 2006 she became Canon Steward of Westminster Abbey and Archdeacon of Westminster, and in 2013 she was appointed

Sub-Dean {{Unreferenced, date=June 2019 A sub-dean is a person who acts as an assistant to a dean either in church circuit as a priest or minister or an academic institution. They are, however, not a vice-dean. A vice-dean is a person who can deputize a de ...

of the Abbey. Her time there coincided with many notable events, including the wedding of Prince William and Catherine Middleton, the state visit of Pope Benedict XVI and a memorial service for

Nelson Mandela Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela (; ; 18 July 1918 – 5 December 2013) was a South African Internal resistance to apartheid, anti-apartheid activist who served as the President of South Africa, first president of South Africa from 1994 to 1 ...

at which

Desmond Tutu Desmond Mpilo Tutu (7 October 193126 December 2021) was a South African Anglican bishop and theologian, known for his work as an anti-apartheid and human rights activist. He was Bishop of Johannesburg from 1985 to 1986 and then Archbishop ...

preached.

As dean

Hedges's installation as the Dean of Norwich was celebrated at a service held at Norwich Cathedral on 21 June 2014. She was the 39th Dean of Norwich and the first female Dean in the cathedral’s 900 year history. Despite speculation that she might become a bishop, Hedges continued in her role until in October 2021 she announced her intention to retire, effective 1 May 2022.Norwich Cathedral, "The Dean announces her retirement"
18 October 2021. Retrieved 15 June 2022. On 8 May 2022, it was announced that she had been appointed Canon Residentiary of

Canterbury Cathedral Canterbury Cathedral in Canterbury, Kent, is one of the oldest and most famous Christian structures in England. It forms part of a World Heritage Site. It is the cathedral of the Archbishop of Canterbury, currently Justin Welby, leader of the ...

; and would serve as Acting Dean of Canterbury from June 2022, following the retirement of Robert Willis. On 30 December 2022, she will move to the Diocese of Newcastle to become Interim Dean of Newcastle and will be installed on 22 January 2023.

Family

Hedges is married to Chris Hedges, a teacher, and has two sons.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Hedges, Jane Barbara 1956 births Living people 21st-century English Anglican priests Alumni of St John's College, Durham Alumni of Cranmer Hall, Durham Canons of Westminster Deans of Norwich