On 3 March 2025, the Rt. Rev. Philip Mounstephen, Bishop of Winchester, published his response to the Review he commissioned into events over recent months at Winchester Cathedral surrounding and subsequent to the departure of Dr Andy Lumsden as Director of Music. The Review was undertaken by Bishop Philip “using the powers given to [him] in ecclesiastical law. However, the responsibility for implementing its recommendations lie wholly with the Dean and Chapter, in recognition of their own statutory responsibilities, not least as Charity Trustees”. Likewise, the coverage by L&RUK will continue to focus on issues of ecclesiastical law [1].

The Review of Winchester Cathedral includes a Summary by Bishop Philip and: Extracts from the Introduction to the Review Team’s Report; Terms of the Review; Good Practice within Winchester Cathedral; Reasons for the Crisis; Recommendations. The 46 recommendations are summarized under the headings: Leadership; Management; Governance; and Communication [2].

Links to all updates related to the Bishop’s Review of Winchester Cathedral are listed below:

• The Bishop’s statement on his review into Winchester Cathedral, (3 March 2025)
• Report to be written during November and December, (23 October 2024).
• In-person interviews are being organised, (22 August, 2024).
• Co-reviewer appointed and privacy notice updated, (9 August 2024).
• Terms of Reference for Bishop’s Review of Winchester Cathedral, (3 July 2024).
• Statement from Bishop Mounstephen, (26 June 204).
• 20th June, 2024: Winchester Cathedral Chapter Statement on Bishop Mounstephen’s Review, (20 June 2024).

At the same time as the Bishop’s response was released, Dean Catherine Ogle issued a statement indicating that after careful consideration she had, with Chapter’s agreement, decided she should hand over leadership responsibilities to Vice-Dean Canon Roly now rather than waiting for her official retirement on 1 May.

[1] The summary by Thinking Anglicans includes links to reports in the media including other aspects.

[2] A footnote to Bishop Philip’s summary comments: “1. Note too that this summary has not been through an inevitably lengthy process of Maxwellisation thus necessitating the avoidance of any individual being named”.

On 9 March, the Interim Dean issued a Statement, Cathedral Leadership and Accountability. 

Updated: 9 March 2025 at 17:10. 

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