Clergy

The Very Rev. Chris Dowdeswell, PhD, Dean of the Diocese of Calgary and Rector of the Cathedral

Email: deanchris@anglicancathedralcalgary.ca

Chris joined the Cathedral in 2022. He grew up on his family's farm near Swift Current, SK. He has deep family roots in the United Church but sojourned in a number of evangelical churches before finding his way to the Anglican communion. Krista, his wife, was raised in a faithful Roman Catholic family. They've been married for about twenty years, having met at the University of Alberta. They taught English in South Korea for a year before attending seminary at Wycliffe College at the Toronto School of Theology (University of Toronto). He also completed a diploma in Ignatian spiritual direction through Regis College at TST. Chris continued on to doctoral studies at Emmanual College, also at TST. Once their boys came along, they moved to Edmonton where Krista and he were ordained, and they ministered in a few different churches over about six years. Chris then became Rector of St Stephen's Swift Current in the Diocese of Qu'Appelle where he also served on the diocesan finance committee, as chair of a local Anglican camp, and as a territorial Archdeacon for another six years. Chris' PhD is interdisciplinary, focusing on psychology, theology and epistemology, and he is also a certified spiritual director. He would love to geek out in conversation with you on those topics (and more!) over a coffee or a beer.

Father Jim McDermott, Honorary Assistant Priest

Finding God in the faces of others is at the heart of Father Jim’s calling. By the time he was ordained, he had a Master of Social Work and a 19-year career as a social worker and probation officer. After ordination, he continued working on behalf of others as a bi-vocational priest, a probation officer during the week and assistant priest on the weekends. In 2004 he moved from New York to Montreal where he applied specialized training in interim ministry. In 2009 Father Jim became rector at St. Mark’s where he remained until his retirement in 2018. The pandemic brought his wife, Veronica, and him to Calgary to be near their grandchildren, daughter and son-in-law and much closer to their son in Portland, Oregon. Hallmarks of Father Jim’s ministry and life are his interests in Celtic spirituality and performing Irish traditional music.

Music

Tim Woodford, Director of Music Ministry

Email: music@anglicancathedralcalgary.ca

Tim began his musical training for churches and cathedrals as a chorister at the Royal Family’s St. George's Chapel, Windsor Castle, where his duties included daily Evensong, extensive choir tours and several radio/television broadcasts and recordings and singing to members of the Royal Family,

He furthered his musical career in worship at school at Hurstpierpoint College, West Sussex, where he became a choral scholar, organist of the weekday morning chapel services. He also made several TV appearances including an extended 300th Christmas edition of "Highway" with Sir Harry Secombe.

Tim continued his musical worship career at Surrey University where he specialised in choral conducting, singing, piano and organ and became a choral scholar and Lay-clerk at Guildford Cathedral.

Upon graduation Tim freelanced as a singer, singing teacher, organist and choral conductor of several choirs and has been Director of Music at schools and several large churches in the UK. He was especially delighted when one of his choristers became ‘BBC Chorister of the Year’ in 2014 (out of all the young singers in the country). The following year, 2 out of the 6 finalists were also from his church.

In 2021 Tim was chosen out of 98 applicants from across the globe including Canada to be appointed as Director of Music at St. Andrew’s-Wesley united church in Vancouver. Here he played the organ, led the congregation and conducted various choirs and reached out to the community, He formed a new children’s choir-The West End Children’s choir; a new community choir-The West End Singers; re-started and expanded the congregational choir as well as conducting the professional morning ensemble and Sunday evening–Sacred Voices. He also started a new lunchtime concert series for professional musicians across Vancouver as a way of connecting to the local and wider community of Vancouver and BC.

As a singer he has sung in some of the country’s top venues including St. Paul’s cathedral, Westminster Abbey and under many of the country’s top choral conductors and chamber choirs including the renowned Cambridge Taverner choir and Scholar Cantorum of Oxford.

Tim has conducted and performed in many prestigious venues such as the Royal Albert Hall (conducted by Sir Anthony Hopkins, in a school prom for BBC Radio 2), The Royal Festival Hall, the Barbican and The Vatican. He has also appeared on BBC television in a TV series about Elgar and in the Final of Sainsbury's Choir of the Year Competition. Past television appearances include a Prom with the Halle Choir under Sir Mark Elder (BBC), A Country House Series (ITV) and an interview for BBC Spotlight.

Tim has performed to many celebrities including: All the Royal Family (on multiple occasions), Dame Judy Dench, Sir David Attenborough, Dame Jacqueline Wilson, Sir David Attenborough, The Most Reverend and Right Honourable Rowan Williams, Lord Archbishop of Canterbury, Sir Bob Geldof.

Tim is also a composer and arranger having had works performed on both BBC Radio and on CD.

Tim is a devout Christian and follower of the path of Jesus, having spent his whole life and career in churches and cathedrals. Having been baptised, confirmed and christened from a young age, Tim enjoys inspiring the congregation in worship. He is delighted to have joined us in his new role here as Director of Music.

Sunday School Teacher

Hugo Camacho, Sunday School Teacher

Email: school@anglicancathedralcalgary.ca
More information coming soon…

Office

Winnifred Hume, Administrator

Phone: 403-269-1905 x112
Email: office@anglicancathedralcalgary.ca

Sandra Davenport, Bookkeeper

Phone: 403-269-1905 x113
Email: davenportbookkeeper@shaw.ca