An Inner city priest and a Nottinghamshire farmer and businessman have been appointed as canons at Southwell Minster by the Bishop of Southwell & Nottingham.

The new canons, the Revd Ruth Worsley and Mr Michael Arlington will be installed during Evensong at the cathedral on Saturday, 1st December at 5.45pm.

The Revd Ruth Worsley, who is priest-in-charge at St Stephen with St Paul, is also the Dean of Women’s Ministry for the Diocese, will be installed into the Retford stall in the Chapter House. Michael Arlington, who is Chair of the Diocesan Finance Committee, will take up a position as a Lay Canon at the Cathedral and will be installed into the Mattersey stall.

Ruth and Michael, (who were both members of the ‘SEE of Sherwood committee’ - which examined future leadership in the diocese), said they are looking forward to supporting the new Dean as he takes forward the developing role of the cathedral across our communities.

Ruth Worsley, Priest-in-Charge of Hyson Green & Forest Fields St Stephen with St Paul, was appointed as Area Dean of Nottingham North in 2006 and also represents the clergy of the diocese on the Church of England’s General Synod. Before training for ordination, she studied theology and English at Manchester University and then began training as a nurse. After working in her local parish and assisting with pastoral and youth work, Ruth went on to take an MA in Mission and Ministry at St John’s Theological College in Nottingham. She took on the first role as chaplain to students spouses at the college and then began training for ordination into the Church of England in 1996. She began work as a curate at St Stephen’s Hyson Green and was appointed as Priest-in-Charge at the parish in 2001. She was appointed Area Dean of Nottingham North in 2006 and then Dean of Women’s Ministry in 2007.

Ruth is married to Howard, who is the Diocesan Director of Education for the Diocese of Southwell & Nottingham. They have three children – Nathanael, Jonathan and Ben.

Michael Arlington, who lives and dairy farms in Caunton, is a director of companies supplying food to Tesco’s and farming in Hungary, Serbia and Ukraine.

He is a member of Holy Trinity Church, Southwell and was appointed as Chair of Finance Committee of Bishop’s Council in 2003. He is also a member of the Diocesan Board of Education. Since his appointment Michael has overseen the establishment of the Mission Development Fund – supporting a range of mission projects across the diocese. He has shaped the new investment and asset management strategy and has been part of making the diocesan finances more transparent through regular consultation with deanery representatives. He has a passion for sport and assisted the Bishop of Sherwood with the appointment of the new Sport Ambassador for the diocese.

Michael is married to Alison and they have three daughters, Emilie, Claire and Jenny.

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