The Cathedral is governed by Chapter, with a team of over 75 staff and 400+ volunteers
Gloucester Cathedral is governed by Chapter with support and oversight from the Cathedral Council and College of Canons. The Cathedral employs approximately 75 members of staff aided by 450 volunteers.
Gloucester Cathedral is a charity and has been entered onto the Register of Charities with the Registered Charity Number 1201309. Like all cathedrals, Gloucester Cathedral reports to the Church Commissioners for England.
The Dean of Gloucester
About The Very Reverend Andrew Zihni, Dean of Gloucester:
The Very Reverend Andrew Zihni was installed as the 39th Dean of Gloucester on Sunday 23 April 2023.
Andrew was born and grew up in Hong Kong, before moving to the UK with his family. He trained for ordination at St Stephen’s House, Oxford, and was ordained Deacon in 2002 and Priest in 2003. He began his ordained ministry in the former mining town of Goldthorpe in South Yorkshire, before moving to St George’s Chapel, Windsor, where he was a Minor Canon and School Chaplain. Andrew then moved to Southwark, where he was Assistant Director of Vocations in the Diocese of Southwark and Honorary Minor Canon at Southwark Cathedral before becoming Canon Precentor in January 2021. He was also a Priest Vicar at Westminster Abbey from 2018 to 2021.
Dean Andrew
Chapter
The Cathedral Chapter is the governance authority for the Cathedral, and is made up of both clergy and lay members. Chapter is responsible for the strategic oversight of all major Cathedral matters.
The Chapter of Gloucester Cathedral, December 2025
Read more about the current Chapter members below
The Very Reverend Andrew Zihni, Dean of Gloucester
Read more about Dean Andrew above.
Canon Margaret Sheather, Senior Non-Executive Member
Canon Margaret Sheather
Margaret was born in the Isle of Wight and, following a 31 year career in local authority social work in various places, came to Gloucestershire in 2000 to be Director of Social Services. Leaving that role in 2010, she worked freelance for a few years and is now retired. She has been a Governor at National Star College since 2011 and is now a Trustee there.
Margaret worships at Holy Trinity, Minchinhampton, and has been involved in the life of the Cathedral since 2009, chairing the Cathedral Council from 2013 and joining the Chapter in 2018. She is involved in the wider life of the diocese as a Deanery Lay Chair and represents the Diocese on the General Synod.
The Revd Canon Nikki Arthy, City Canon & Rector
The Revd Canon Nikki Arthy
Canon Nikki Arthy is Rector of Gloucester city and Hempsted. A believer in God and Gloucester, Nikki is known locally as the City Canon further linking the Cathedral with the life of the city. Prior to this role, Nikki worked in a large rural multi parish benefice in the diocese and was an Area Dean.
She is married to Giles, a local GP, and has two sons.
William Donaldson
William Donaldson
Born and raised in Western Canada, William studied Theology at the University of Wales, beginning his career managing the property portfolio of the Diocese of Gloucester. Then followed two decades in the corporate property world founding a business which he sold once it had become one of the UK’s leading specialists in residential management. After professional training as a garden designer, his energy is now focused on the joys and challenges of stewarding the land he farms and gardens in the Cotswolds.
His lively engagement with our natural environment and built heritage has been channelled into various national charity trusteeships. He served for nine years on the Board of the Churches’ Conservation Trust and latterly on the Board of the Campaign for the Protection of Rural England.
William joined the Cathedral Chapter in 2025.
Ally Hardy
Ally Hardy
Ally has been a member of the worshipping community at Gloucester Cathedral since 2018. More recently Ally has been a Trustee of the Friends of Gloucester Cathedral and a member of the congregational development team. Ally is an archivist and currently Heritage Services Manager for Wiltshire and Swindon. She is the Honorary Secretary of the Archives and Records Association.
Ally lives in Gloucester with her husband and two cats, she joined the Cathedral Chapter in 2025.
Canon Marion David, Lay Canon
Canon Marion David
Marion is French and has been living in the UK for almost 20 years in good company with her husband Lambert, 2 teenage children Raphael & Emilie and a recently rescued black and white cat called Max who has a bad habit of biting when he doesn't want to be stroked.
When she is not working at Trinity Church in Cheltenham as operations manager, she can be seen cycling around Cheltenham and Gloucester or running through the neighbouring countryside with one of her many Superdry hoodies on, acquired during the time that she led the international customer services team of the fashion retailer.
After successfully leading her church to a Silver EcoChurch Award last spring, Marion is looking forward to taking the Cathedral on its next Eco-Journey level, building on what is already a very firm, and green, foundation.
The Revd Canon Dr Rebecca Lloyd, Canon Chancellor and Director of Learning and Participation
The Revd Canon Dr Rebecca Lloyd
Canon Rebecca was installed as Canon Chancellor and Director of Learning and Participation, and Residentiary Canon of the Cathedral, in October 2022. Prior to this, she was Chaplain to the Bishop of Lichfield and Chancellor’s Vicar at Lichfield Cathedral. She has also worked in parish ministry in London and, before ordination, she was a Whitehall civil servant.
Rebecca lives in Gloucester with her dog, Tina.
The Revd Canon Craig Huxley-Jones, Canon Precentor and Director of Congregational Development
The Revd Canon Craig Huxley-Jones
Canon Craig has been Canon Precentor at Gloucester Cathedral since January 2024 after being the Senior Chaplain of Christ’s Hospital, the country’s leading charitable school and largest bursary charity. Before that, he spent twelve years at Benenden School in Kent, the final seven as Chaplain and served a curacy in the Benefice of Goudhurst with Kilndown. Prior to ordination, Craig held a number of pastoral roles in boarding and has taught Theology, Philosophy and Ethics throughout.
A musician himself, Craig enjoys playing the organ (though he confesses to being a little rusty these days!) and singing. He is married to Sarah, a teacher of Geography and has a daughter, Persephone and a son, Hamish.
The Revd Canon Dr Sandra Millar, Director of Mission & Ministry
The Revd Canon Dr Sandra Millar
Sandra grew up Warwickshire, where her parents ran a village shop. After university in Cardiff and a degree in English and Law she worked in retail marketing for several years, before studying for a PhD in adult learning at University of Warwick. She also worked for a large mission organisation, training children and youth workers here and overseas.
Sandra was ordained in 2000 at St. Alban’s Cathedral, and began ordained ministry in Chipping Barnet, before moving to Berinsfield, Oxford where she was vicar and part-time staff at Ripon College, Cuddesdon.
In 2007 she arrived in Gloucester Diocese to be the Adviser for work with children and families, before working nationally for the Church of England as Head of Life Events. In 2022 she returned to the Diocese as Director of Mission and Ministry, and and in March 2023 became a Residentiary Canon at the Cathedral as well.
Canon Jane MacDowall-Scott, Lay Canon
Canon Jane MacDowall-Scott
Jane grew up in Wales before studying to be a Chartered Town Planner at Coventry University. After a decade in planning, she became Assistant Chief Executive of both Stratford-on-Avon and West Oxfordshire District Councils. Jane later established a business specialising in stakeholder engagement and, working with all sectors, facilitated events all over Europe and the UK.
Jane worshipped at Coventry Cathedral from the age of 18 and held the voluntary position of Chapter Clerk before being appointed to be the Administrator (COO) in 2007, a post she held until 2012. She then held senior roles in both Wells Cathedral and Bath Abbey, joining Gloucester Cathedral Chapter as a Lay Canon in December 2022. She is currently the Executive Director of ‘AtaLoss’- a national, Christian bereavement charity.
Jane is a keen gardener and a singer with a long career in church music having sung with many choirs and Cathedrals over the years.
Canon Stuart Hutton, Canon Treasurer
Stuart Hutton
Stuart has built a distinguished career in international wealth management, having established his own business in this sector more than twenty years ago. In 2022, he took a significant step by merging his successful practice with that of a long-term business associate. He is recognised as a Chartered Fellow of the Chartered Institute for Securities and Investments (CISI), demonstrating his expertise and leadership in the financial services sector. He also serves as an External Specialist Advisor to CISI, specifically in the area of faith-led Finance.
Stuart has a strong interest in technology and its transformative potential for the financial and banking sectors. He collaborates with organisations at the forefront of innovation, seeking new ways to advance sustainability, green finance, and financial inclusion.
Stuart is married to Anna, a nurse and midwife and together they have four children. The family has resided in Gloucestershire for over twenty-five years. Outside of his professional commitments, Stuart enjoys rugby and music, and he often spends his leisure time traveling with the family, gardening and decorating their family home.
The Cathedral's Chief Operating Officer and Chief Financial Officer also attend Chapter meetings
As per the Cathedral’s Measure (1999) The Chapter is advised by:
The Fabric Advisory Committee, which oversees planning and fabric matters.
The Finance Committee, which oversees financial and investment strategy. The Annual financial statements can be viewed here:
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