The Deans & Deaneries

The Diocesan Bishop appoints the Dean (Vicar Forane), having consulted the priests who exercise ministry within the deanery. The Diocesan Bishop may, however, enact particular law for a diocese, to determine another mode for choosing the Dean (e.g. election, or some formal method of consultation prior to appointment).

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The Bishop may appoint any priest as Dean and the office is not necessarily attached to any particular parish. The appointment is to be for a precise term and does not enjoy stability. For a just cause the Diocesan Bishop may freely remove the dean from office

Over and above any special faculties that he may enjoy from Diocesan particular law or by delegation from the Diocesan Bishop, the Dean should be the key element in the pastoral life of the Deanery. His role is first of all that of promoting and coordinating, supporting and helping the local priests and deacons within his deanery. After that he may be considered a trouble-shooter to solve local problems. As with all ecclesiastical offices, the letter of appointment should specify the rights, duties and obligations attached to it.

The Bishop describes the role of Dean in the document found here.

In this Diocese, there are currently six Deaneries & Deans (below):
1. St Peter’s Deanery
(Lancaster & Morecambe)
Dean: Very Rev Stephen Pearson VF
St Peter’s Cathedral, Cathedral House, Balmoral Road, LANCASTER, LA1 3BT, Tel: 01524 384820
 –
2. Our Lady & St Wilfrid’s Deanery
(Preston)
Dean: Rev Canon Adrian Towers VF
St Andrew’s Presbytery, 114 Hoyle’s Lane, COTTAM, PRESTON, Lancs, Tel: 01772 726166
3. St Kentigern & Sacred Heart Deanery Combined
(Blackpool & Thornton)
Dean: Rev Andrew Broster VF St John the Evangelist, The Willows, Ribby Road, KIRKHAM, Lancs, PR4 2BE, Tel: 01772 683664

4. St John The Evangelist Deanery
(Kirkham)
Dean: Rev David Burns VF
St Joseph’s Presbytery, Woodlands Road, ANSDELL, Lytham St Annes, Lancs, FY8 4EP. Tel: 01253 737037
 –
5. St Mary of Furness & St Thomas of Canterbury Deanery
(Furness & Lakes)
Dean: Rev Emmanuel Gribben VF
Our Lady of Furness, Duke Street, BARROW-IN-FURNESS, LA14 1XW, Tel: 01229 820210
6. Our Lady & St Benedict and St Herbert Deanery Combined
(West Cumbria & Carlisle)
Dean: Rev  Paul Johnstone VF
The Priory, CLEATOR, Cumbria, CA23 3AB Tel: 01946 810324
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