After 13 years in the Vergers Department, Paul Russell-Sewell is taking up the position of Head Verger at The Cathedral Church of St Nicholas in Newcastle-upon-Tyne.
The Chapter and staff of Sheffield Cathedral congratulates Paul on his new appointment and thank him for his contribution to the life of the Cathedral over the past 13 years.
Paul has been part of the team here through a period of tremendous change and development such as the Gateway Project, and will contribute all that experience to the similar exciting developments at Newcastle Cathedral. We wish him every success.
Statement from Paul Russell-Sewell
“Following 13 years in the Vergers Department, with the last eight as Canons’ Verger, I have tendered my resignation from Sheffield Cathedral to take up the position of Head Verger at The Cathedral Church of St Nicholas, Newcastle-upon-Tyne. I have thoroughly enjoyed my time at Sheffield and the various responsibilities I have had. As well as maintaining the cathedral so it is fit for worship and visitors on a daily basis, highlights have included curation of the archive of the many drawings and photographs of the cathedral that informed the Gateway Project; preparing the cathedral for Her Majesty The Queen and The Royal Maundy; the light displays; and the, now annual, display for Remembrance Sunday. The cathedral is, of course, the people it serves and I shall miss so many I have worked with, the congregation and visitors. My last day at Sheffield will be Easter Sunday and I will be in Newcastle from the second week of April.
I join the team at Newcastle Cathedral at an exciting time. The cathedral is currently undergoing a transformation through the heritage project “Common Ground in Sacred Space”. This will see a renewed nave (with new heating and lighting), café, entrances and churchyard. The cathedral reopens to the community in the summer and is building a new staffing team to support its mission and ministry in the city centre. There will be much to do in my new role as Head Verger in preparation for reopening and I look forward to the challenges ahead.
I would like to thank everyone for their help and support over the last 13 years, and look forward to welcoming you to see the transformed cathedral in Newcastle – a great day out by train from Sheffield.”