Stephen Edwards (priest)

The Very Reverend Dr

Stephen Edwards
The Very Reverend Dr; Stephen Edwards
Dean of Worcester
Church	Church of England
Diocese	Worcester
In office	September 2024 – present
Predecessor	Peter Atkinson
Orders
Ordination	1996 (deacon) ; 1997 (priest)
Personal details
Born	Stephen Edwards; 5 July 1972
Denomination	Anglicanism
Alma mater	Lancaster University; Westcott House, Cambridge; Anglia Ruskin University; University of Manchester;

Stephen Edwards (born 5 July 1972) is a British Anglican priest. Since 2024, he has served as Dean of Worcester.

Life and career

Edwards was born on 5 July 1972 in Shrewsbury. He attended Darland High School and Yale College, Wrexham.^[1] He was educated at Lancaster University and Anglia Ruskin University, and trained at Westcott House, Cambridge.^[1]^[2] He served as a curate in the parish of Colwyn Bay in the Diocese of St Asaph, and was ordained priest in 1997. In 1999, he became Priest-in-Charge of Bryn-y-Maen. In 2002, he became Priest-in-Charge at St Agnes' Church, Longsight, in the Diocese of Manchester.^[a] In 2012, he became Team Rector of Wythenshawe, additionally becoming Area Dean of Withington in 2013.^[2]

In 2016 he obtained the degree of Doctor of Practical Theology at the University of Manchester.^[1] His thesis, titled "A Critical Exploration of the Ministry of a White Priest within a Black-Majority Congregation", reflects on his ministry at St Agnes', Longsight.^[3]

In 2019, he was appointed Residentiary Canon at Worcester Cathedral, becoming Vice-Dean in 2021, and was appointed interim Dean of Worcester on the retirement of Peter Atkinson in 2023. His permanent appointment as Dean was then announced on 17 June 2024.^[2] He was installed as Dean on 15 September.^[4]

Notes

^ In full, he was Priest-in-Charge of St Agnes, Birch-in-Rusholme, with St John with St Cyprian Longsight, but the churches of St John and St Cyprian have long been closed.

References

^ ^a ^b ^c "Edwards, Very Rev. Dr Stephen Michael". Who's Who. A & C Black. (Subscription or UK public library membership required.)
^ ^a ^b ^c "Appointment of Dean of Worcester: 17 June 2024". UK Government. 17 June 2024. Retrieved 17 July 2025.
^ Edwards, Stephen (31 December 2016). "A Critical Exploration of the Ministry of a White Priest within a Black-Majority Congregation". The University of Manchester. Retrieved 29 July 2025.
^ "Stephen Edwards installed as Dean". Church of England Diocese of Worcester. 16 September 2024. Retrieved 17 July 2025.

[3] In full, he was Priest-in-Charge of St Agnes, Birch-in-Rusholme, with St John with St Cyprian Longsight, but the churches of St John and St Cyprian have long been closed.

[ww-1] "Edwards, Very Rev. Dr Stephen Michael". Who's Who. A & C Black. (Subscription or UK public library membership required.)

[Announcement-2] "Appointment of Dean of Worcester: 17 June 2024". UK Government. 17 June 2024. Retrieved 17 July 2025.

[Thesis-4] Edwards, Stephen (31 December 2016). "A Critical Exploration of the Ministry of a White Priest within a Black-Majority Congregation". The University of Manchester. Retrieved 29 July 2025.

[5] "Stephen Edwards installed as Dean". Church of England Diocese of Worcester. 16 September 2024. Retrieved 17 July 2025.

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Anglican Diocese of Worcester
Worcester Cathedral The Old Palace, Worcester Hartlebury Castle Alvechurch Palace Area scheme (1993–2002)
Office holders	Hugh Nelson, Bishop-designate of Worcester, Bishop to the Forces, and Bishop of St Germans Martin Gorick, Bishop suffragan of Dudley and Acting Bishop of Worcester AEO: Paul Thomas, Bishop suffragan of Oswestry & Rob Munro, Bishop suffragan of Ebbsfleet , Dean of Worcester Nikki Groarke, Archdeacon of Dudley Mark Badger, Archdeacon of Worcester
Historic offices	Bishop suffragan of Coventry (1891–1918; Diocese of Coventry erected) Archdeacon of Gloucester (12th century–1541 & 1552–1554; became Diocese of Gloucester) Archdeacon of Coventry (1837–1918) & of Warwick (1910–1918) became Diocese of Coventry) Archdeacon of Birmingham (1892–1905; became Diocese of Birmingham)