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Email to FriendEUROPE: John Paddock appointed new dean of Gibraltar
Paddock , 57, is currently vicar of St. George's Church in Tuffley and St. Margaret's, Whaddon in Gloucestershire, England. He hopes to take up his new post in mid-December.
Paddock has experience of serving as a priest in the Church of England's Diocese in Europe, having previously been assistant chaplain in Madrid. His degree and research were in Hispanic Studies; he is fluent in Spanish and Portuguese and speaks a number of other languages including Russian and Greek. He also holds the higher degree of Master of Laws (Cardiff).
He will come to the Anglican Cathedral Church of the Holy Trinity in Gibraltar, which is both a parish church and the mother church of the Diocese in Europe, during a major appeal to raise £850,000 to replace the roof, build an enhanced entrance onto the Cathedral Square to improve access for both churchgoers and tourists, and to fund several other necessary conservation and restoration measures.
"The cathedral is an important part of the very distinguished history of Gibraltar, and indeed a focus for the modern daily life of the vast Diocese in Europe," said Paddock. "We all therefore have cause to be grateful to all those who have gone before us in faithfully and lovingly preserving and transmitting to us this 'jewel in the crown' of Gibraltar's history and heritage, and we too share the same privileged responsibility of handing on this important building in good order and condition to the generations yet to come."
Paddock hopes his experience as a chaplain in the Royal Air Force will also be helpful to his new work in Gibraltar, which still has importance as a military base and where there are strong links with British forces.
"I am looking forward to contributing to the spiritual life of the community among all people, so that every life and talent is appreciated, valued and celebrated to the glory of God," he said. "We all have a great deal to offer to enrich and enhance the daily life of every member of our community."
At his installation on December 16, the bishop of Gibraltar in Europe, Dr. Geoffrey Rowell, will formally introduce Paddock to the cathedral, Gibraltar and representatives of the wider church around Europe.
Paddock is married to Jennifer, who had a career in the United Nations and as a Member of HM Foreign and Commonwealth Office.
Biographical details
Born in August 1951, John Allan Barnes Paddock studied at Liverpool, Oxford, Glasgow, Cardiff and Manchester universities.
He trained for ordination at St. Stephen's House, Oxford and was ordained to the diaconate in 1980 and to the priesthood in 1981.
In addition to his time in the Anglican church in Madrid, he has held office in the dioceses of Gloucester, Rochester and Canterbury.
He has been a chaplain with the RAF. One of his postings was a three-year tour as chaplain to HM Forces in Hong Kong, where the then governor, Sir David Wilson, particularly valued his ministry. He also has considerable musical talents (singing, composing and piano playing). He also served on the staff of RAF College, Cranwell (the Officer & Pilot Training College of the Royal Air Force) and was a school chaplain in Lancaster, Orpington and Croydon.
His hobbies and interests include music, literature, travel, and canon and ecclesiastical law. He is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts.
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