New Dean of St Patrick’s Cathedral Dublin elected

The new Dean and Ordinary of St Patrick's Cathedral Dublin is Dr William Morton, Dean of Derry, and Deputy Lieutenant for Derry since 2014.

He succeeds Dean Victor Stacey who retired last March.

As Dean and Ordinary of the Church of Ireland’s National Cathedral, he occupies a position of unique independence in church life.

Born in 1956, Dean Morton attended Trinity College Dublin and was ordained a priest in 1989.

Having served at Drumchose, Co Derry, and Conwal in Donegal, he became Dean of St Columb's Cathedral, Derry, in 1997. He was appointed to the chapter of St Patrick's Cathedral as Prebendary of Howth in 2013.

He is the first Northerner to hold the post since Dean Victor Griffin retired in 1991.

Dean Griffin, who now lives at Limavady, Co Derry, had been rector at Christ Church Derry until his election as Dean of St Patrick's in 1968.

This evening he described Dean Morton as “a great reconciling person” whose election as Dean of St Patrick’s was “Dublin’s gain, very much so”.

‘Very popular’

In Derry, he said, Dean Morton was “very popular. He reached out to the community, to all creeds and classes. He was very ecumenical. At a time in Derry when that was very, very necessary, he was an important agent of reconciliation.”

The new Dean was also “a man of many gifts, very humble, highly educated, very wise. He is also a very good musician,” Dean Griffin said.

As for himself, Dean Griffin, who will be 92 on May 24th, remarked: “Ah sure I should be gone long ago.”

Commenting today on the election of Dean Morton, Archbishop of Dublin Michael Jackson said the new Dean would "bring a wide range of gifts to his new position. Personally, I look forward to working with him in the months and years ahead."

The election of the new Dean by the St Patrick’s chapter began at 2pm today in the Cathedral.

The chapter is made up of 28 members, including four 'dignitaries' (Dean, Precentor, Chancellor and Treasurer), the Archbishop of Dublin, 12 diocesan canons to represent each of the 12 Church of Ireland sees, nine Chapter canons elected by the Chapter, and two ecumenical canons elected by the Chapter.

All members of the Chapter are automatically eligible for the position of Dean, but members who did not wish to be considered withdrew their names. Voting took place in two rounds.

After initial votes were cast, three candidates with the most votes moved into a second round. The candidate with the most votes, by simple majority, in this round Dr Morton, was elected Dean.