Rebekah Best follows in her fathers footsteps to become the new Head Verger

We are very proud to announce that Rebekah Best has taken on the role of Head Verger, a role that was held by her father Jeffery Hewitt who retired earlier this year after 26 years of service.

Rebekah, who has herself been part of the Cathedral’s five-strong verger team for 11 years, has become the first female Head Verger at Durham.

Rebekah, who recently returned from maternity leave, following the birth of her seven-month-old son Ethan, said:

Born in Derby, where Jeffrey was based at the city’s cathedral before moving back to his native Durham in 1997, Rebekah previously served as a relief verger at Durham as a teenager, prior to moving to the Midlands in 2007 to work for the charity Youth for Christ in Burton-on-Trent.

There, she met her future husband Ashley, before Rebekah’s work with Youth for Christ brought her back to the North East, as she spent a year working with young offenders at Low Newton and Castington. While this work was eye-opening and rewarding, Rebekah said she was delighted when an opportunity came along to join the Cathedral’s team of vergers in 2012.

Rebekah says:

The verges team play a huge role within the daily workings of the cathedral, with three services per day plus more for special occasions, they also welcome tourists and also play a part in the hosting of concerts, exhibitions and other events. Rebekah and her team work with event organisers and ensuring everything is in place from seating and sound systems, to stage design and stage building.

As well as events, the vergers also participate in and set up for all services.

Rebekah, who served as her father’s deputy during his final year, added: