Peterborough Cathedral Chapter Members

The Very Revd Chris Dalliston, Dean of Peterborough
The Very Revd Chris Dalliston was installed as Dean of Peterborough in January 2018. Prior to taking up his appointment he was Dean of Newcastle for 14 years, where he oversaw significant improvements in the Cathedral’s facilities for visitors and worshippers, and led a partnership with the City Council and others to re-invigorate the historic heart of the city.

Chris has his roots in the east of England. He grew up in Norfolk, studied at Cambridge University and served in the Diocese of Chelmsford for the first 12 years of his ministry. Before going to Newcastle he was Vicar of St Botolph’s Church at Boston in Lincolnshire (known as ‘the Stump’) from 1995-2003.

Chris was born in 1956 and brought up at Diss in Norfolk. He studied Modern History at Peterhouse, Cambridge, then worked for the Ford Motor Company from 1978 to 1981 before entering St Stephen's House, Oxford to study theology and train for ordination. He was ordained Deacon in 1984 and Priest in 1985, and served his curacy at St Andrew with Holy Trinity, Halstead, Essex. From 1987 to 1991 he was Chaplain to the Bishop of Chelmsford, and from 1991 to 1995 Vicar of St Edmund’s Church at Forest Gate in London.

Chris is married to Michelle and has four adult children, Alex, Tom, Georgie, and Bella. Michelle is also ordained and is Interim Vicar of St John with St Luke in Peterborough. He lists poetry and music (especially jazz, folk and opera) among his interests. He and Michelle love Italy and all things Italian. He is a keen follower of Formula 1 and a (very) long suffering supporter of Norwich City FC. 

Revd Canon Tim Alban Jones, Vice Dean 

Born near London, Tim lived his early life in the home counties and South Wales before moving to South Africa for three years.  The family returned and settled in Gloucestershire where Tim and his twin brother went to Wycliffe College.  On leaving school at 17 Tim spent some time in the USA before his degree in history at the University of Warwick.  He went straight from university to Ripon College Cuddesdon where he spent three years preparing for ordination.

Tim was ordained in Hereford in 1988 and served his curacy in the parish of St Paul’s, Tupsley where he met and married his wife Cathy, a Nurse Consultant in Palliative Care.  From there he became a Team Vicar in the Ross-on-Wye Team Ministry with responsibility for four very rural parishes. After just over seven very happy years Tim and his family moved to Soham where they spent fifteen years.  During his time in Soham, the parish was thrown into the media limelight with the murder of the two school girls.  He was awarded an MBE in recognition of his ‘service to the community’. He has also served on General Synod, as a Rural Dean, Warden of Readers and chair of the House of Clergy as well as various other diocesan committees.

Tim moved to Peterborough in 2015 to take up a role as Chaplain to the Bishop of Peterborough and residentiary canon at the Cathedral. From January 2022 Tim has been full-time Canon Pastor and Vice Dean at the Cathedral.

Tim and Cathy have three grown up children. Tim’s interests include music, cooking, liturgy and reading.

Revd Canon Dr Rowan Williams, Precentor

The Revd Canon Dr Rowan Williams was installed as Precentor in September 2018.

Rowan first became interested in liturgy and music as a student at King's College, Cambridge, where she studied for a BA in modern languages and sang in as many choirs as possible. During her year abroad, she taught English in a German secondary school, and translated the lyrics of Captain Noah and his Floating Zoo into German for the school choir!

Her professional background is in residential care – working with adults with multiple disabilities and dementia. She then spent seven years as a member of the Community of St Francis, an Anglican religious order, before training for ordination.

Rowan was ordained in the Diocese of Leicester in 2005, where she worked in a deprived urban parish, and then as a hospital chaplain, with a particular interest in palliative care. During her curacy she began studying for a PhD in early Franciscan theology, which took seven years to complete (and may become a book one day). She is just finishing a Masters in English Church Music from the University of York, which was a lot quicker and a lot more entertaining to write. She has also written two books – one on Franciscan spirituality and another on the theology of chaplaincy. Immediately prior to taking up her role as Canon Precentor, Rowan spent nearly nine years as Chaplain to the University of York.

Rowan is an enthusiastic, if occasionally despairing, supporter of Welsh rugby; she also used to have a season ticket to Leicester Tigers, after whose ground her cat Welford is named. She also enjoys horses, languages, books and coffee.

Revd Canon Steve Benoy, Canon Missioner 

The Revd Canon Steve Benoy was installed as Canon Missioner on Sunday 1st May 2022. 

Canon Benoy has been Director of Ordinands, Vocations and Formation in the Diocese of Peterborough for the last 11 years, encouraging people to explore both lay and ordained ministry, and guiding them on their journey through training.  During this time the number of people coming forward for ministry grew considerably, particularly in younger age groups, and he has been at the heart of Church’s encouragement of younger vocations more widely, leading the development of the Church of England's Ministry Experience Scheme.

Prior to this, from 2002, Canon Steve was Vicar of Christ the King in Kettering. Under his leadership the church was able to plant new congregations and work successfully in partnership with other churches and organisations in the town.

He served his curacy at New Malden, near Kingston Upon Thames, eventually staying there for six years as his role became a Deanery-wide one, developing and launching the youth outreach charity, Oxygen. The organisation aims to equip Christian young people to share their faith with their peers, particularly in the more challenging neighbourhoods of the borough, working in partnership with local churches, youth centres and schools.

Steve trained at Trinity College, Bristol, and was ordained at Southwark Cathedral in 1996. Prior to this he studied Music at the University of Cambridge and became a teacher in London. His childhood was spent between Australia, where he was born, and England as the family moved with his father’s work.

He and his wife Alex, who is Executive Administrator for the Peterborough Diocesan Board of Education, have three grown up sons. Steve enjoys climbing mountains, listening to music, reading biographies, watching documentaries and pretty much any sport, especially the ups and downs of Leeds United.