Congratulations to twelve new canons who will be installed at Winchester Cathedral! Honorary Canons are appointed by the Bishop of Winchester in consultation with the Dean and Chapter of the cathedral and in recognition of their service to the cathedral, the diocese and wider church.
They form a link between the diocese, local parishes and the cathedral and serve as advisors, pray for the cathedral’s life, participate in major ceremonial services, and support the cathedral’s mission and ministry.
Seven will be installed at a special service in the cathedral this Sunday, and another five in May. Here are the new Canons and we pray for them as they start their role:
New Canons March 2026
Revd Ali Hill
My ministry has been shaped by a culture of church planting and revitalisation. Before returning to the Anglican Church in 2007, I was part of a London-based church that planted ten churches in ten years, fostering a deep commitment to mission, leadership development, and multiplication. Since ordination training, I have served on three church planting and revitalisation teams, and as Rector now lead the revitalisation of St Win’s in the Parish of Totton and Calmore. The parish serves the Waterside and beyond, supporting mental health and well-being across the generations through its flagship ministries. I also serve on Diocesan Synod and lead initiatives such as The Harbour, a day conference empowering women in church leadership.
Being appointed an Honorary Canon is a real privilege and a joy. For me, it’s a reminder of how local, faithful ministry connects to the wider life of the diocese, and of the importance of serving together in mission, leadership, and community. It encourages me to keep investing in church planting, revitalisation, and the development of leaders, whilst always looking out ‘for the one’. I receive this role with amazement (!) gratitude and a renewed desire to serve God and his people with energy, hope, and care.
Revd Marianne Foster
Becoming an Honorary Canon feels like a real gift. It feels rooted in relationship and in service, and in a love for the Church and its people. For me, the role is about holding the Cathedral at the heart of our shared life, listening well, and offering what I can from my own experience of parish ministry, safeguarding and community work. I care about the Church being a place of welcome, honesty and compassion, especially for those who feel unseen or on the edges, and I hope to bring that heart into this role.
Revd Ben Jones
I’m a husband, a father to two teenagers, a vicar, a musician and above all, a cricket fanatic and an Everton fan! I have been vicar of St. Luke’s, Hedge End for the past four and a half years and previously ministered in Southwark and Canterbury dioceses. I wrote my MPhil thesis on the use of humour in preaching and try (not always successfully) to make services fun and engaging. Alongside my parish ministry, I serve on Diocesan Synod, the Diocesan Mediation Team and as an ADDO. I have been blind for the past 12 years and, whilst this isn’t ideal, it does protect me from the horror of actually having to watch Everton play…
It’s a great honour to be invited to become an honorary canon. I love the indefinable but tangible sanctity and beauty of Winchester Cathedral and am looking forward to playing a small part in its mission and ministry.
Revd Simon Newham
After working as a research scientist in the construction industry, I followed Jesus into the Church, training at Trinity Theological College Bristol before serving my curacy and other posts in Chichester Diocese. After 19 years in Chichester I moved to Winchester in 2019 becoming Parish Priest of Brockenhurst, Bolde and South Baddesley in the heart of the beautiful New Forest. Common threads throughout my ministry have included a desire to share the good news of Jesus with those outside and on the fringes of the church; overseas partnerships; and the joys and challenges of the rhythm and life of place and people-centred parish ministry. I’m married to Gina and have three adult children Luke, Zac and Milly that have all wonderfully supported me throughout my ministry. My hobbies include long-distance walking, cooking, and motorbikes.
Becoming an Honorary Canon of Winchester Cathedral has been a huge surprise and a source of great joy – it’s such a privilege and honour to be invited to support the life, mission and ministry of such a historic, important and pivotal institute in the life of our diocese and wider community. I hope that I will be able to broaden the reach, both locally and internationally, of our Cathedral through my own work and contacts and support and encourage the team there in the wonderful work they are doing.
Revd Dr Amy Roche
I have served throughout my ministry with a conviction that Christian leadership must always be directly and wholeheartedly connected to the mission of the Church, shaped by years spent as a CMS mission partner overseas—including formative time in Beirut, Lebanon —where the lived realities of cross‑cultural ministry deepened my belief that God is always at work in the world, drawing people into healing, hope, and renewal. My work as Head of Mission and Ministry has flowed from that same calling: to encourage churches, clergy, and lay leaders to discover afresh how the Gospel comes alive when it meets real communities, real stories, and real needs.
What makes becoming an Honorary Cathedral Canon so meaningful to me is that it represents a shared ministry rooted in prayer, belonging, and the life of the whole diocese, affirming not only my service but the countless relationships and partnerships that have shaped my vocation.
Revd Jim Findlay
I grew up on a council estate in Corby, Northamptonshire. I resisted family pressure to leave school as early as possible to get a job because further study was ‘not what we do’. Encouraged by one key individual, I navigated the complex dynamics around that and moved to the south coast to study for a degree in Religious Studies. This led me, eventually, to train as a teacher in Religious Education, albeit an atheist teacher of this subject. In my first post, because a twelve-year-old pupil dared to bluntly explain ‘The Wise and Foolish Builders’ story, I was converted to faith in Jesus.
Having worked as a secondary school teacher for ten years in Hampshire and Dorset, I trained for ordination at Wycliffe Hall in Oxford. I have served as an ordained minister in three different parishes across twenty-two years: in Medway, Kent (Gillingham St. Mark’s); in Salisbury and Laverstock (St. Mark’s & St. Andrew’s); and for the last eight years in Bournemouth at St. Paul’s Church, Throop.
It is a real honour, and a huge surprise, to be invited to take up the role of Honorary Canon. As a vicar with a pastoral and teaching heart, I hope to bring a desire to serve collaboratively, offering thoughtful theological reflection, and a commitment to nurturing faith and discipleship, in support of the Cathedral’s worship and witness at the heart of the diocese.
Revd Kathy Hicken
For the past two years, I have had the privilege of serving as the vicar of a newly formed benefice in Christchurch Deanery, the River Mude Benefice, made up of the parishes of All Saints in Mudeford, and St Luke’s in Burton. It’s a delight to be part of the exciting journey of these two wonderful parishes coming together as one benefice, and adding my support to the impressive efforts of All Saints Church as we restore our building after a major fire in 2022. Prior to this, I served for 7 years as vicar of St Mark’s Southampton, seeing the church community responding to God’s call upon them, and growing in numbers and spiritual maturity.
As vicars, we are nothing without the faithfulness and service of our congregations, and whilst I feel humbled and honoured by the invitation to become an honorary canon of Winchester Cathedral, I also believe that this honour is a shared one with the parishes that I have worked with. I am looking forward to getting to know the important work of the cathedral better, and hopefully to act more effectively as a link between our parishes and the cathedral. My prayer is that we will enrich each other as we build these relationships and learn together how to live, love and serve God as a Cathedral and Diocese.
New Canons May 2026
Revd Jane Thompson
I was completely was bowled over and in total disbelief when I heard that my ministry had been ‘commended in many different forms’ and that I was being invited to become an Honorary Canon. I am aware that I am involved in quite a lot and in a wide variety of areas – but I have never thought of this as particularly notable! I am honoured and, with a tangible sense of God with me, I’m excited for the new possibilities I had not even imagined. What a privilege!
Revd Simon Robertson
I am the Vicar of the Church of the Ascension, Southampton and the Area Dean of Southampton. I am committed to parish ministry and supporting clergy and lay leaders across the deanery, with a heart for collaborative mission and community engagement. I am married to Sandy, and we have a daughter called Chloe.
Becoming an Honorary Canon feels both humbling and deeply encouraging. I’m very conscious that this is not simply a personal honour, but also a recognition of the shared ministry of so many people, colleagues, the church community at Ascension, churchwardens, lay leaders, and congregations across Southampton. Serving as a Vicar and Area Dean has given me a profound appreciation for the richness, challenge and diversity of our church communities, and I carry those relationships with me into this new chapter. I hope to bring to the role a listening heart, a collaborative spirit, and a hopeful confidence in what God is doing across our Diocese.
Revd Angie Smith
I have been vicar of a three parish benefice centred in Hartley Wintney, Hampshire since 2017, after serving my curacy in my sending church Christ Church, Winchester. I qualified and practiced as an Architect for 16 years before God called me, via some research and pastoral work into ordination and church leadership. I have enjoyed serving on various and varied diocesan committees including being an ADDO and now as the Chair of the House of Clergy.
I am a cradle Anglican and though my roots and heritage are in Hampshire, I was deeply formed by some childhood spent in East Africa, and the Holy Spirit as I came to a living faith as an adult. I am inspired by the interplay between scripture and visual art and am restored by growing things, making things and being outside.
The cathedral has been a significant place for me for 50 years. As a 12 year old school girl it was a special treat to go to early communion there. It has been a place where I have sought solace, celebrated God’s goodness and been ordained! And it’s a place where annually I ask Him to renew his call and I reaffirm my commitment to be a priest in His church. It’s majestic architecture and moving music still inspires awe in me no matter how familiar it has become.
It’s the honour of a life time, therefore, to be asked to join its community as a canon, because it is of course, so much more than a building! Thank you!
Revd Jon Finch
I’m the Rector of Saint Mary’s Church in Southampton, where I have served since 2018. I lead a growing, planting church with a strong commitment to spiritual formation, leadership development, and the renewal of communities, particularly among young people and those facing social disadvantage. I am passionate about helping people follow the way of Jesus in everyday life, holding together worship, prayer, community, creativity, justice and mission. I live in Southampton with my wife Hannah and our children.
Being a canon is a great honour to me. It feels like a recognition of the ministry and impact of our church community, especially as we have pioneered and reached many new people with the good news of the gospel. I’m excited to continue to play my part in the renewal of our diocese and in the growing of Jesus’ church.
Revd Dr Ben Kautzer
For the last seven years, I have served as the Rector of the wonderful parish of Oakley with Wootton St Lawrence. I am also currently the Area Dean of Basingstoke. I’m originally from a little town called Rancho Cucamonga in Southern California. Around 17 years ago, I journeyed across the pond for a short study in the UK … and never left! Prior to joining the Diocese of Winchester, I trained for ordination at Ripon College Cuddesdon and completed my curacy at St Nicolas, Earley in the Diocese of Oxford. I am married to Jo. We have three fantastic boys, a very patient cat, and two guinea pigs.
It came a real surprise to be invited to take up this role as an Honorary Canon. Prior to ordination, I worked as a researcher on a project exploring the growing impact of cathedrals across the Church of England. Encountering firsthand the diversity, depth and scale of ministry undertaken in our ‘mother churches’ was truly inspiring. In Winchester, we are blessed with one of the country’s most stunning and remarkable cathedrals. I am most grateful for the opportunity to support the work of our Cathedral and to champion its mission and ministry within the Diocese.
