New Chaplain for a ‘re-imagined’ role at St Paul’s Cathedral

Revd Helen O’Sullivan currently serves as a parish priest on the Isle of Wight: as the Rector of the Parishes of Brightstone and Brook with Mottistone and Vicar of the Parish of Shorwell with Kingston. She has led and cared for five churches, with responsibility for leading the substantial team of lay people who serve them.

Helen is also a governor and Chaplain to a Church of England primary School within the parish. Prior to her ordination, in 2008, she worked as a Business Operations Manager for Oxford University Press.

Canon Pastor, Revd Tricia Hillas, said: ‘On behalf of the Chapter I am delighted to announce the appointment of the Reverend Helen O’Sullivan as Chaplain of St Paul’s.

‘Helen, as Chaplain, will not be a Minor Canon but will float freely within the clergy structures in order to provide pastoral care to everyone, regardless of their role and responsibility.

‘We very much look forward to welcoming Helen when she moves and in the meantime, if you can, please do join in praying for Helen, her family and the parishes she will be preparing to leave in the New Year.

Revd Helen O’Sullivan said: ‘It is a privilege to be given this opportunity to minister to the whole Cathedral community in this new role.

‘St Paul’s is a special place and I am looking forward very much to being part of the team who work with such commitment to sustain the Cathedral as a place of inestimable spiritual value in the life of the nation and for the hundreds of thousands of people who come through the doors every year.’

The Chaplain will continue to work within the team of clergy who serve St Paul’s and to contribute with those colleagues to the life and mission of the Cathedral. However, the role of Chaplain has been re-imagined to allow for a greater focus on pastoral care and support of Cathedral staff, volunteers, regular worshippers and the pupils, staff and parents of the Cathedral School.

Working closely with the Canon Pastor, the Chaplain will undertake a significant leadership role with voluntary Pastoral Duty priests, and share in preparing people for and conducting the notable number of weddings and baptisms which take place here.'

The Chaplain will also have a distinctive liturgical role in contributing to key pastoral services such as Confirmations, Diocesan services, school services, the Chrism Mass and commemorations for Cathedral staff.