A NEW Dean of Ripon has been installed at an historic service at the cathedral.

Canon John Dobson was chosen in March to succeed the Very Reverend Keith Jukes, who died last year from stomach cancer, aged 59.

The new dean was until recently a vicar and area Dean in the Diocese of Durham, first as a curate at Benfieldside, then Darlington.

While in Darlington he led growing congregations and established the new parish of Blackwell. His projects in Darlington included encouraging churches in the Deanery sign up to Darlington Credit Union.

He was also chairman of the Diocesan Synod House of Clergy.

The Very Rev Dobson was installed at a service at Ripon Cathedral on Saturday evening (June 14) led by the Right Reverend James Bell, Bishop of Knaresborough.

Before the service the 49-year-old prayed silently in the Saxon crypt, built by St Wilfrid in 672, which was a place of prayer and pilgrimage in Ripon for more than 1,300 years.

He then took his place in the service which was attended by civic and community leaders, representatives of the armed forces and former colleagues and parishioners. During the service he took oaths on the Ripon Bible, which dates back to the 13th century.

The Very Rev Dobson is married to Nicola, a headteacher, and the couple have two children, James and Jessica.