All Saints Fulham  Prepares to Say Goodbye to Father Joe

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Rev. Canon Joe Hawes appointed Dean of St Edmundsbury Cathedral in Suffolk

All Saints Fulham is preparing to say goodbye to Rev. Canon Joe Hawes.

The church has announced that Father Joe has been appointed as the next Dean of St Edmundsbury Cathedral in Suffolk.

Joe’s installation at the cathedral will be on Saturday 14 July and his last Sunday at All Saints Fulham will be 10 June.

The church says in its newsletter: " We offer our congratulations to Father Joe for the next exciting
stage of his ministry, although it is with sadness that we anticipate his leaving All Saints after 15 years in Fulham."

The Rt Revd Martin Seeley, Bishop of St Edmundsbury and Ipswich, says there was a strong field of applicants with more candidates than usual for a Dean’s post.

Bishop Martin says: "I am delighted that it was a unanimous decision to appoint Joe. He is an outstanding and Godly priest. He is warm, engaging, caring and fun. He brings energy and wisdom, and a huge amount of experience in parish ministry.

"He has been Vicar of All Saints’ in Fulham for 15 years, and increased the regular congregation by 25% to more than 500 each Sunday with a particular ministry with families and young people.

"In Fulham he has developed worship to be engaging and accessible for people of different backgrounds and ages, and a church looking outwards, engaged in loving service with those in need.

"He has strong leadership and organisational skills, sees the cathedral as serving the whole county, not just Bury St Edmunds, and I look forward to working with him across the county for the greater good."

Father Joe says: "The past fifteen years in Fulham have been some of the happiest and most fulfilling in my life. The people of All Saints and the many organisations in Fulham with whom I have worked have helped me to grow in ministry and discipleship.

"If I am to any extent prepared for this new role, it is largely because of what I have been taught and privileged to share in Fulham."

The church adds that parishioners and local people will have plenty of opportunities to celebrate and give thanks for Joe's ministry in Fulham in the next few months.

For more information on Father Joe’s new appointment visit St Edmundbury Cathedral's website.

April 13, 2018