Stephen Edwards (priest)

Stephen Edwards (born 5 July 1972) is a British Anglican priest. Since 2024, he has served as Dean of Worcester.

The Very Reverend Dr Stephen Edwards
Dean of Worcester
Church	Church of England
Diocese	Worcester
In office	September 2024 – present
Predecessor	Peter Atkinson
Orders
Ordination	1996 (deacon) 1997 (priest)
Personal details
Born	Stephen Edwards (1972-07-05) 5 July 1972 (age 53)
Denomination	Anglicanism
Alma mater	Lancaster University Westcott House, Cambridge Anglia Ruskin University University of Manchester

Life and career

Edwards was born on 5 July 1972 in Shrewsbury. He attended Darland High School and Yale College, Wrexham.^[1] He was educated at Lancaster University and Anglia Ruskin University, and trained at Westcott House, Cambridge.^[1][2] He served as a curate in the parish of Colwyn Bay in the Diocese of St Asaph, and was ordained priest in 1997. In 1999, he became Priest-in-Charge of Bryn-y-Maen. In 2002, he became Priest-in-Charge at St Agnes' Church, Longsight, in the Diocese of Manchester.^[a] In 2012, he became Team Rector of Wythenshawe, additionally becoming Area Dean of Withington in 2013.^[2]

In 2016 he was awarded a Doctorate in Practical Theology from the University of Manchester.^[1] His thesis, titled "A Critical Exploration of the Ministry of a White Priest within a Black-Majority Congregation", reflects on his ministry at St Agnes', Longsight.^[3]

In 2019, he was appointed Residentiary Canon at Worcester Cathedral, becoming Vice-Dean in 2021, and was appointed interim Dean of Worcester on the retirement of Peter Atkinson in 2023. His permanent appointment as Dean was then announced on 17 June 2024.^[2] He was installed as Dean on 15 September.^[4]

Notes

1. In full, he was Priest-in-Charge of St Agnes, Birch-in-Rusholme, with St John with St Cyprian Longsight, but the churches of St John and St Cyprian have long been closed.