Durham Cathedral is pleased to announce the appointment of the Venerable Michael Everitt as a Residentiary Canon and Canon Pastor at Durham Cathedral, sitting on the Cathedral’s Chapter.

As Canon Pastor, Michael Everitt will care for and look to grow the worshipping congregation of the cathedral in faith and numbers. He will oversee the work of the cathedral’s education and library & collections teams, as well as head up the cathedral’s student ministry with both higher education and further education institutions.  The Canon Pastor will also broaden how the cathedral works with local communities including those of other faiths and cultures.

Michael is currently a priest in the Diocese of Blackburn, serving as Archdeacon of Lancaster and an Honorary Canon of Blackburn Cathedral.  For the last two years he has been interim Vicar of Preston, specifically to facilitate the transition of the Parish of Preston - consisting of Preston Minster and St George's Church - to become 'Preston Resourcing Parish', working alongside Holy Trinity Brompton in London. 

A graduate of Kings College London, Michael trained for ministry at Queen’s College, Birmingham and the English College in Rome. He then served as a curate in Cleveleys, near Blackpool, ahead of a three-year secondment to Bloemfontein Cathedral, working in cross-community areas in post-apartheid South Africa.  At this time he was the first non-Dutch reformed lecturer in theology at the University of the Orange Free State.

The Venerable Michael Everitt, says, “I am humbled and excited to be appointed to the Chapter at Durham Cathedral. The powerful pull of St Cuthbert, the Venerable Bede and the northern saints has always been strong in my life. This, combined with my wife’s maternal family being from County Durham gives a strong sense of coming home.”

The Right Reverend Julian Henderson, Bishop of Blackburn, says, “It’s a sad day for the Diocese of Blackburn to lose a faithful colleague, priest and friend, who has served here for 27 years in a variety of roles.  But it’s a good day for Michael and his wife Ruth, as they launch out into a new ministry in a new Diocese. I pray for God’s blessing to be upon them, that He will use them as much, if not more, in the North East as He has in the North West.”

The Very Reverend Andrew Tremlett, Dean of Durham, says, “We look forward to welcoming Michael and his family to Durham. Michael brings a wealth of experience, in particular his college chaplaincy roles, Chair of the Blackburn Diocesan Board of Education and Chair of Blackburn’s Multi-Academy Trust, with the latter role involving work with church schools, secondary schools and further and higher education institutions.  This experience will be key as Durham Cathedral looks to extend its mission and ministry of welcome to children, young people and students across the Diocese of Durham and North East region."

Michael Everitt will be installed as a Residentiary Canon and Canon Pastor of Durham Cathedral in September.