The Dean of Blackburn is the head (''primus inter pares'' – first among equals) and chair of the chapter of canons, which is the ruling body of

Blackburn Cathedral Blackburn Cathedral, officially known as the Cathedral Church of Blackburn Saint Mary the Virgin with St Paul, is an Church of England, Anglican (Church of England) cathedral situated in the heart of Blackburn town centre, in Lancashire, England ...

. The dean and chapter are based at the Cathedral Church of Blackburn St Mary the Virgin with St Paul in Blackburn. The post was designated as provost before September 2000, which was then the equivalent of dean at most English Cathedrals. The cathedral is the mother church of the

Diocese of Blackburn The Diocese of Blackburn is a Church of England diocese, covering much of Lancashire, created on 12 November 1926 from part of the Diocese of Manchester. The diocese includes the towns of Blackburn, Blackpool and Burnley, the cities of Lancast ...

and seat of the

Bishop of Blackburn The Bishop of Blackburn is the Ordinary of the Church of England Diocese of Blackburn in the Province of York. The diocese covers much of the county of Lancashire and has its see in the town of Blackburn, where the seat of the diocese is locat ...

. The incumbent dean is Peter Howell-Jones, who was installed on 25 March 2017 after being announced in November 2016.

List of Deans

Provosts

* 1931–1936:

John Sinker John Sinker (21 December 1874 – 24 April 1936) was an Anglican priest and author. Life John Sinker was born into an ecclesiastical family, the fifth son of the Reverend Robert Sinker ''Who Was Who 1897–2007''. London, A & C Black, 2007 ...

* 1936–1961:

William Kay William Kay may refer to: Politicians *William Kay (politician) (1829–1889) businessman and politician in South Australia * William A. Kay (1864-1931), American politician * William Frederic Kay (1876–1942), Canadian politician Sports * Willi ...

* 1961–1972: Norman Robinson * 1973–1992: Lawrence Jackson * December 1992 – September 2000:

David Frayne David Frayne was an Anglican priest and Provost of Blackburn Cathedral. He was educated at Reigate Grammar School and St Edmund Hall, Oxford, and ordained in 1961. He was Curate at St Michael, East Wickham, and then Priest in charge of St Barnab ...

(became Dean)

Deans

* September 2000 – September 2001: David Frayne (previously Provost) * November 2001 – 17 June 2016 (res.):

Christopher Armstrong Christopher John Armstrong (born 18 December 1947) is a priest in the Church of England, and former Dean of Blackburn. Early life Armstrong was born on 18 December 1947. He was educated at Dunstable Grammar School and the College of the Venerab ...

* June 2016March 2017 (acting): Philip North, Bishop Suffragan of Burnley * 25 March 2017present: Peter Howell-Jones

References

{{Deans in the Church of England Deans of Blackburn Deans of Blackburn Deans of Blackburn Lancashire-related lists