After five years with the Chichester Cathedral Friends, Howard Castle-Smith is to step down as Honorary Secretary.
The Chichester Cathedral Friends are an important part of the Cathedral family. For over 80 years they have contributed to the life and work of the sacred place of worship, hosting a variety of events and providing opportunities to meet new people and share experiences in the heart of the city.
Howard was elected as a Trustee of the Friends in June 2017, and became Honorary Secretary in 2019. The early days of his role saw a time for celebration, with sponsorship of the Southern Cathedrals Festival, as well as festivities to mark the 80th Anniversary of the Friends which resulted in over 120 new members join. Howard also represented Chichester at the National Friends Conference in Ely.
However his three-year term also coincided the COVID-19 pandemic, which saw the Cathedral itself closed, and the Friends’ events schedule cancelled. Howard, along with the Trustees of the Friends, continued their support of the Cathedral during the subsequent period of recovery – contributing over £330,000 to major projects.
Malcolm Gill, Chair of the Cathedral Friends, said:
“We give our thanks to Howard for contributing his time and expertise to growing and sustaining the Friends, particularly during the challenging period of the pandemic. Howard leaves us in a strong position, as we welcome new members to share in the life of the Cathedral, and continue our commitment of financial support as we approach 950 years since the Cathedral moved from Selsey to Chichester, in 2025.”
The Friends are now seeking a new Honorary Secretary to build on Howard’s time at the Cathedral.