Dianna Lynn Gwilliams DL (born 26 May 1957) is an American-British retired Anglican priest. She served as Dean of Guildford, 2013[1]–2023.
Dianna Gwilliams | |
|---|---|
| Dean of Guildford | |
| Diocese | Diocese of Guildford |
| In office | 2013 to 2023 |
| Predecessor | Victor Stock |
| Orders | |
| Ordination | 1992 (deacon) 1994 (priest) |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Dianna Lynn Gwilliams 26 May 1957 |
| Denomination | Anglicanism |
| Alma mater | University of California King's College London |
Early life and education
editGwilliams 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
editGwilliams 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 a 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
editShe 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
editShe 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
edit- ^ 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.
- ^ "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.
- ^ a b c Quentin Vacheron Wed 1 May 2013 3:46 BST (May 2013). "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) - ^ Surrey Life
- ^ a b c "The Very Revd Dianna Lynn GWILLIAMS". The Church of England Year Book. Church House Publishing. Retrieved 23 June 2023.
- ^ Administrator (20 April 2016). "Dianna Gwilliams – Chair". Inclusive Church. Retrieved 2 June 2019.
- ^ a b "Dianna Gwilliams to be new Dean of Guildford – Women and the Church". womenandthechurch.org. Retrieved 2 June 2019.
- ^ 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.
- ^ a b c d e f "Dianna Lynn Gwilliams". Crockford's Clerical Directory (online ed.). Church House Publishing. Retrieved 23 June 2023.
- ^ "Dianna Lynn Gwilliams". Crockford's Clerical Directory (online ed.). Church House Publishing. Retrieved 30 November 2015.
- ^ "Copleston Church (St Saviour Peckham)". A Church Near You. The Archbishops’ Council. Retrieved 23 June 2023.
- ^ "Appointment: Dean of Guildford". GOV.UK. Retrieved 2 June 2019.
- ^ "New Dean of Guildford announced". Diocese of Guildford. 30 April 2013. Archived from the original on 14 August 2013. Retrieved 23 June 2023.
- ^ "Dean Dianna to retire". Guildford Cathedral. 19 June 2023. Archived from the original on 24 June 2023. Retrieved 23 June 2023.
- ^ "Dianna Gwilliams (chair)". Inclusive Church. Retrieved 23 June 2023.
- ^ "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.
- ^ "Annual Report & Financial Statements, 2022" (PDF). Inclusive Church. Archived from the original (PDF) on 24 June 2023. Retrieved 24 June 2023.
- ^ "The IC Statement". Inclusive Church. Retrieved 23 June 2023.
- ^ Deputy Lieutenants
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