Exeter Cathedral Names First Female Dean in 970-Year History
A Historic Appointment for Exeter’s Cathedral Close
Exeter Cathedral has been a fixture of city life for close to a thousand years, and its Close is one of the places many of us take visitors first. So when Downing Street confirmed that the Very Reverend Arwen Mary Folkes will become the first woman to serve as Dean, it felt like news for everyone who walks past those great stone walls, not just the congregation. Folkes will be the 72nd Dean and is due to take up the post on 9 May 2027.
Her story also stretches across the region. She was born in Barnstaple, baptised in Bideford, and grew up at the Lizard Lighthouse on the Cornish coast, where her father was one of the last live-in lighthouse keepers for Trinity House. That coastal childhood is a thread running through the appointment. Folkes has said she sees a church as a lighthouse, steady and watchful, and she describes her new role as being entrusted with ‘a rather bigger one this time’.
For residents of Exeter, the appointment is a reminder that the cathedral is more than a tourist draw. It is a working building, a place of worship, a concert venue and a meeting point for community events. A new Dean will shape how it opens its doors to the wider city, so it is worth paying attention to how that unfolds over the coming months.
Who Is Arwen Folkes and What Is She Bringing?
Folkes is currently Vicar of St Mary-the-Virgin in Eastbourne, but her career has taken her through several parts of the south of England. She began her curacy at St Just-in-Roseland in Cornwall before joining the Diocese of Chichester, where she served in Seaford and then Eastbourne. Along the way she founded and ran Real Baby Milk, a Cornish social enterprise, and served as an elected district councillor in Cornwall. That mix of civic service, enterprise and parish work is unusual for a cathedral appointment, and it suggests she will be comfortable working with local councils, charities and businesses, not only church members.
The Bishop of Exeter, the Right Reverend Dr Mike Harrison, said he was delighted by the appointment and described Folkes as someone with roots firmly in the South West. He pointed to her knowledge of Cornwall and Devon, built through her coastal upbringing and years working in the region.
The Interim Dean, the Very Reverend Stephen Waine, has been leading the cathedral in the meantime. He said Folkes would bring fresh insights and enthusiasm for ministry both inside the cathedral and across the wider diocese. For the staff, volunteers and clergy who keep the building running day to day, a clear handover and a settled leadership team will matter as much as the new ideas she brings.
What Residents Should Know and Where to Watch Next
There is no immediate change for visitors or worshippers. The cathedral remains open as usual, and Folkes does not begin until May 2027, giving the community plenty of time to get to know her. Still, it is a good moment to check what the cathedral offers. Tours, concerts and community events are a useful way to see the building, and volunteering or joining local groups linked to the cathedral are ways to get involved before the new Dean arrives.
Watch for announcements from the Diocese of Exeter about her installation service and early plans. Local BBC Devon and BBC Cornwall coverage will likely follow the story, and those outlets invite story ideas from readers at [email protected].
For anyone planning a summer break on the Atlantic coast, the connection to Cornwall is a handy reminder of what the region has to offer. Many visitors choose to go to Newquay, where Fistral Beach is famous for its surf. If you are bringing a dog, check seasonal rules before you go, since restrictions on dog on beaches can change through the year. Dog friendly accommodation is easy to find across the area, but booking early in peak season is wise.
Source: First female dean of Exeter Cathedral appointed
