MARK BONNEY, CANON TREASURER OF SALISBURY CATHEDRAL, TO BE NEW DEAN OF ELY

Downing Street today announced that the Queen has approved the nomination of the Reverend Canon Mark Philip John Bonney, MA, Canon Residentiary and Treasurer of Salisbury Cathedral, in Salisbury Diocese, to be appointed to the Deanery of the Cathedral Church of the Holy and Undivided Trinity, in Ely, on the resignation of the Very Reverend Michael John Chandler, STh, PhD, on 31 October 2011.

The Dean Designate of Ely can be heard here.

Mark Bonney said, “It has been an enormous privilege to be a Residentiary Canon at Salisbury Cathedral for the past seven and a half years and I have learnt a huge amount about the role of cathedrals and their place in the mission of the Church today. I have particularly valued my involvement with skilful colleagues in the Works Department as we have seen the Major Repair Programme progress, and the development of a Visual Arts Programme has also been particularly satisfying. All of this springs from our fundamental commitment to worship, and Salisbury is blessed with a wonderful tradition in this respect. It will be a great wrench to leave but I am really excited and enthused about becoming the Dean of Ely and using the skills and experiences gained here in another of England’s great cathedrals. I am particularly looking forward to leading Chapter as it works alongside the new Bishop of Ely, the Rt Revd Stephen Conway.”

The Dean of Salisbury, the Very Revd June Osborne, said “Mark has been a much loved colleague and he will be sorely missed. Yet we are delighted that he is to be the Dean of Ely as he will offer his abundant skills to that historic cathedral and diocese, and he will be a fine priest to all who he meets there.”

The Bishop of Salisbury, the Rt Revd Nicholas Holtam, said “Mark Bonney has made a considerable contribution to Salisbury and people across the diocese, as well as in the cathedral, will be sad to lose his wisdom and unfailing good humour. He will be a wonderful Dean of Ely and Ely are truly blessed!”

Mark Bonney will be installed as Dean of Ely on Saturday 22 September at 11.00am. His last day officiating in services at Salisbury Cathedral is Sunday 22 July. He moves to Ely during August.

The Reverend Canon Mark Bonney (aged 55) read Music at St Catharine’s College, Cambridge and trained for the ministry at St Stephen’s House, Oxford. He served his title at Stockton St Peter in the diocese of Durham from 1985 to 1988. From 1988 to 1990 he was Chaplain at St Albans Abbey in the diocese of St Albans, and then Precentor from 1990 to 1992. From 1992 to 1996 he was Vicar of Eaton Bray with Edlesborough in the diocese of St Albans, From 1996 to 2004 he was Rector of Great Berkhamsted, and also Rural Dean of Berkhamsted from 2002 to 2004. Since 2004 he has been Canon Residentiary and Treasurer of Salisbury Cathedral.
Mark is married to Kate, a primary school teacher, and they have two daughters, Hannah, at university, and Eleanor, about to take GCSE’s.
He was a member of General Synod for 15 years, served as Chaplain to the Synod, was a member of the Liturgical Commission, and a member of the Councils of Westcott House and the Royal School of Church Music. He is Chairman of the Salisbury Diocesan Advisory Committee. He is interested in spirituality, formation and growth.
His hobbies include music, art, sport (he gained Blues at Cambridge for tennis and golf) cooking and entertaining.