The Very Reverend

Nicola Sullivan
Dean of Southwell
DioceseDiocese of Southwell and Nottingham
In office2016–present
PredecessorJohn Guille
Other post(s)Bishop’s chaplain (2002–2007) and Sub-Dean of Wells Cathedral (2003–2007)
Archdeacon of Wells (2007–2016)
Orders
Ordination1995 (deacon)
1996 (priest)
Personal details
Born (1958-08-15) 15 August 1958 (age 65)
NationalityBritish
DenominationAnglican
Alma materWycliffe Hall, Oxford

Nicola Ann Sullivan (born 15 August 1958) is a British Church of England priest. She is the current dean of Southwell and previously Archdeacon of Wells

Early life and education

Sullivan was born on 15 August 1958, and brought up in Suffolk.[1] She qualified as a nurse in 1981 and a midwife in 1984, after which she worked both in the United Kingdom and, with Tearfund, in Swaziland and Ethiopia.[2][3] She trained for ordained ministry at Wycliffe Hall, Oxford,[1] graduating with a Bachelor of Theology (BTh) degree in 1995.[4]

Ordained ministry

Sullivan was ordained in the Church of England as a deacon in 1995 and as a priest in 1996.[4] Her clerical career began with a curacy at St Anne's Church in Earlham near Norwich.[1] In 1999 she took up the post of associate vicar at Bath Abbey and became chaplain to the Bishop of Bath and Wells in 2002.[5] She was made Sub-Dean of Wells Cathedral in 2003.[2]

Sullivan was appointed Archdeacon of Wells and a Canon Residentiary of Wells Cathedral in 2007. The role of archdeacon involves oversight of 200 parishes in the eastern half of the county of Somerset.[5][6]

In 2013, Sullivan was elected as one of eight senior women clergy, called "regional representatives", to attend meetings of the House of Bishops, one of the three chambers of the General Synod of the Church of England, the church's legislature.[7] As regional representative for the south-west of England (comprising the dioceses of Truro, Salisbury, Bath & Wells, Gloucester, Bristol and Exeter), she attended meetings of the house in a speaking, but non-voting, capacity until such time as six women sit as full members of the house.[2] She stepped down from the role in 2016, after the first women bishops had been appointed.[8]

On 4 April 2016, it was announced that Sullivan was to become Dean of Southwell.[9] She was installed during a service at Southwell Minster on 17 September 2016.[10]

References

  1. ^ a b c "Sullivan, Nicola Sullivan". Who's Who. Vol. 2019 (1 December 2018 online ed.). A & C Black. Retrieved 27 January 2019. (Subscription or UK public library membership required.)
  2. ^ a b c "Archdeacon Nicola elected to House of Bishops to represent south west". Diocese of Bath and Wells. 30 September 2013. Retrieved 15 January 2014.
  3. ^ "Women in the Community – The Venerable Nicola Sullivan". Quest. August 2012. Archived from the original on 16 January 2014. Retrieved 15 January 2014.
  4. ^ a b "Nicola Ann Sullivan". Crockford's Clerical Directory (online ed.). Church House Publishing. Retrieved 9 April 2023.
  5. ^ a b "The Venerable Nicola Sullivan". Wells Cathedral. Archived from the original on 23 May 2013. Retrieved 15 January 2014.
  6. ^ "Online Directory". Diocese of Bath and Wells. Retrieved 16 January 2014.
  7. ^ "Final list of female representatives to House of Bishops". Church of England. 28 October 2013. Retrieved 14 January 2014.
  8. ^ "The Very Revd Nicola Ann SULLIVAN". The Church of England Year Book. Church House Publishing. Retrieved 9 April 2023.
  9. ^ Diocese of Southwell & Nottingham — New Dean of Southwell announced (Accessed 4 April 2016)
  10. ^ Diocese of Bath & Wells — Farewell service for Archdeacon Nicola (Accessed 30 June 2016)
Church of England titles Preceded byPeter Maurice Archdeacon of Wells 2007–2016 Succeeded byAnne Gell Preceded byJohn Guille Dean of Southwell 2016–present Incumbent
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