The Reverend

Dianna Gwilliams
Dean of Guildford
DioceseDiocese of Guildford
In office2013 to 2023
PredecessorVictor Stock
Orders
Ordination1992 (deacon)
1994 (priest)
Personal details
Born
Dianna Lynn Gwilliams

(1957-05-26) 26 May 1957 (age 66)
DenominationAnglicanism
Alma materUniversity of California
King's College London

Dianna Lynn Gwilliams DL (born 26 May 1957) is an American-British retired Anglican priest. She served as Dean of Guildford, 2013[1]–2023.

Early life and education

Gwilliams was born on 26 May 1957 in Colorado, United States.[2][3][4][5] She grew up in California,[6] and was educated at Villa Park High School in Villa Park, California.[5] She studied at the University of California, majoring in physics and chemistry, and graduating with a Bachelor of Arts (BA) degree in 1978.[7]

In 1978, she travelled to the United Kingdom while she was on tour (as a sound engineer) for a musical called The Witness.[8] She was a sound engineer for 12 years.[3]

From 1989 to 1992, she trained for ordained ministry on the Southwark Ordination Course, a part-time theological training course.[9] She later studied youth ministry and theological education at King's College London, graduating with a Master of Arts (MA) degree in 2001.[7][9]

Ordained ministry

Gwilliams was ordained in the Church of England as a deacon in 1992 and as a priest in 1994.[10] From 1992 to 1997, she was an non-stipendiary minister and assistant curate at St Saviour's Church, Peckham, known locally as the Copleston Church, in the Diocese of Southwark.[11] She then moved into full-time ministry and became an assistant curate at St Barnabas' Church, Dulwich.[5] In 1999, she was appointed vicar of St Barnabas' Church and chaplain of Christ's Chapel of God's Gift.[9] She was additionally area dean of Dulwich from 2005 to 2012 and dean of women's ministry for the Diocese of Southwark from 2009 to 2012.[9] In 2006, she was made an honorary canon of Southwark Cathedral.[9] From 2007 to 2011, she was also priest-in-charge of Copleston Church, where she had started her ministry.[9]

In April 2013, it was announced that Gwilliams had been appointed the next Dean of Guildford.[12] She was installed as dean at Guildford Cathedral on 15 September 2013.[13] She was the first female Dean of Guildford and, in 2013, was one of the most senior female priests in the Church of England, alongside five other female deans.[3] She retired as dean in September 2023, after ten years in the role; her final service was evensong on 17 September.[14]

Views

She was chair of Inclusive Church[15] from 2012[16] until 2022;[17] an organisation that educates on full inclusion of every person in the church regardless of "disability, economic power, ethnicity, gender, gender identity, learning disability, mental health, neurodiversity, or sexuality".[18]

Personal life

She has three children (including a daughter who died in infancy), five grandchildren and her husband is a stonemason. She is a Deputy Lieutenant of Surrey.[19]

References

  1. ^ Chapel Studios. "Diocese of Guildford | Could 2014 be the year for Women Bishops?". Cofeguildford.org.uk. Archived from the original on 4 January 2014. Retrieved 3 January 2014.
  2. ^ "Gwilliams, Very Rev. Dianna Lynn, (born 1957), DL; Dean of Guildford, since 2013". Who's Who 2022. Oxford University Press. 1 December 2021. Retrieved 23 June 2023.
  3. ^ a b c Quentin Vacheron Wed 1 May 2013 3:46 BST. "Dianna Gwilliams to be new Dean of Guildford Cathedral". www.christiantoday.com. Retrieved 2 June 2019.((cite web)): CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  4. ^ Surrey Life
  5. ^ a b c "The Very Revd Dianna Lynn GWILLIAMS". The Church of England Year Book. Church House Publishing. Retrieved 23 June 2023.
  6. ^ Administrator (20 April 2016). "Dianna Gwilliams – Chair". Inclusive Church. Retrieved 2 June 2019.
  7. ^ a b "Dianna Gwilliams to be new Dean of Guildford – Women and the Church". womenandthechurch.org. Retrieved 2 June 2019.
  8. ^ Newbold, Words Victoria Lazarevic | Photos Andy (19 February 2014). "Guildford Cathedral's Dianna Gwilliams, one of Britain's only female deans". Surrey. Retrieved 2 June 2019.
  9. ^ a b c d e f "Dianna Lynn Gwilliams". Crockford's Clerical Directory (online ed.). Church House Publishing. Retrieved 23 June 2023.
  10. ^ "Dianna Lynn Gwilliams". Crockford's Clerical Directory (online ed.). Church House Publishing. Retrieved 30 November 2015.
  11. ^ "Copleston Church (St Saviour Peckham)". A Church Near You. The Archbishops’ Council. Retrieved 23 June 2023.
  12. ^ "Appointment: Dean of Guildford". GOV.UK. Retrieved 2 June 2019.
  13. ^ "New Dean of Guildford announced". Diocese of Guildford. 30 April 2013. Archived from the original on 14 August 2013. Retrieved 23 June 2023.
  14. ^ "Dean Dianna to retire". Guildford Cathedral. 19 June 2023. Archived from the original on 24 June 2023. Retrieved 23 June 2023.
  15. ^ "Dianna Gwilliams (chair)". Inclusive Church. Retrieved 23 June 2023.
  16. ^ "For the attention of the House of Bishops" (PDF). Progressive Christianity Network Britain. 6 December 2012. Archived from the original (PDF) on 24 September 2021. Retrieved 24 June 2023.
  17. ^ "Annual Report & Financial Statements, 2022" (PDF). Inclusive Church. Archived from the original (PDF) on 24 June 2023. Retrieved 24 June 2023.
  18. ^ "The IC Statement". Inclusive Church. Retrieved 23 June 2023.
  19. ^ Deputy Lieutenants
Church of England titles Preceded byVictor Stock Dean of Guildford 2013–2023 TBA


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