Edward Dowler

Robert Edward Mackenzie Dowler (born 28 December 1967)^[1] is a British Anglican priest. Since September 2024, he has been the Dean of Chichester in the Church of England.^[2]

Early life and education

Dowler was born on 28 December 1967 in Highgate, London, England.^[3][4] He was educated at Harrow School, an all-boys independent boarding school in London.^[3] He studied at Christ Church, Oxford (BA, 1989), Selwyn College, Cambridge (BA, 1993), Westcott House, Cambridge and Durham University (PhD, 2007).^[5] His doctoral thesis was titled "Songs of love: a pastoral reading of St Augustine of Hippo's Enarrations in Psalmos", and his supervisors were Graham Gould and Carol Harrison.^[6]

Ordained ministry

Dowler was ordained in the Church of England as a deacon in 1994 and as a priest in 1995.^[1] After curacies in London including at Christ Church, Southgate he was on the staff of St Stephen's House, Oxford from 2001 until 2009; then Vicar of Clay Hill until his appointment as archdeacon.^[7] He served as the Archdeacon of Hastings in the Diocese of Chichester from 2016 until 2024;^[8][9] he additionally became priest-in-charge of St John the Evangelist, Crowborough in 2020.^[10]

On 14 May 2024, it was announced that he would be the next Dean of Chichester;^[8] he was instituted on 14 September 2024.^[11][2]