The Cathedral Community Roll
What is the Cathedral Community?
We often talk about the ‘Cathedral community’. This is a term recognised in church law. The way cathedrals are governed is set out in the Cathedrals Measure, which received Royal Assent in 2019. The Measure defines the ‘Cathedral community’ as those over the age of 16 who are engaged in work or service at the Cathedral in a regular capacity, or who worship regularly (or ‘habitually’) in the Cathedral, or are such other people as the statutes may specify as members of the cathedral community. Some people may belong to both groups – e.g., members of staff may also worship habitually in the Cathedral, habitual worshippers may also be volunteers, and so on.
Who are the ‘habitual worshippers’?
For electoral purposes, a ‘habitual worshipper’ is defined as someone who is (a) baptised, (b) aged 16 or over, (c) is a member of the Church of England or a church in communion with it,* and (d) has habitually attended public worship at the Cathedral during the six months preceding their application to join the roll. It’s important to note that the ‘habitual worshippers’ are not just the people who attend the 10.30 sung eucharist.
The Cathedral has many ‘habitual worshippers’ who come to morning prayer or the 8 o’clock eucharist on Sundays or weekdays, or to evensong.
The Community Roll
Under the Cathedral's Constitution a Community Roll is maintained of those who meet the formal criteria for membership of the Cathedral Community. Those whose names are not on the existing Roll, and are eligible to join, are strongly encouraged to do so.
The Roll distinguishes between those whose connection to the Cathedral is by means of habitual worship (the ‘Worshipping Community Roll') and others.
Elections to Deanery Synod
The Cathedral is represented by its clergy and three elected lay people on the Deanery Synod of Worcester Deanery, which comprises the 42 Church of England churches in Worcester and its environs. For more information on the Deanery Synod, see Could you stand for Deanery Synod?
There will be a meeting after the 10.30am Eucharist on Sunday 30 August 2026 to elect our lay Deanery Synod Representatives for the next three years. (These three representatives will also serve ex officio, subject to appointment by the Chapter, on the Cathedral's Congregational Committee.)
Only those who are lay members of the Worshipping Community Roll, and whose name is not also on the electoral roll of a parish are qualified to take part in this election.
Application forms for membership of the Cathedral Roll, and nomination forms for election to the Deanery Synod, may be downloaded below, and returned to:
Sara Ward
Governance Assistant
The Chapter Office
Tel: 01905 732905
thedeansoffice@worcestercathedral.org.uk
* It is possible to hold dual membership of the Church of England and another Church not officially in communion with the Church of England, provided that Church professes the doctrine of the Holy Trinity. This sounds complicated – anyone who isn’t sure of where they stand should discuss it with one of the Cathedral clergy. A further complication is that lay people, but not clergy, who are on the roll of habitual worshippers may take part in the election of lay representatives of the Cathedral to the Worcester Deanery Synod.