Graham Forbes has been Provost of the Cathedral since 1990. After degrees in Russian and Theology he was Curate at Old St Paul’s, Edinburgh for six years before moving in 1982 to St Ninian’s Cathedral, Perth as Provost.

The Provost is responsible for all aspects of the Cathedral’s life and worship and chairs the Cathedral Board and the Cathedral Council. He leads the staff team of stipendiary and non-stipendiary clergy and lay staff (full and part time).

A former member of the Parole Board for Scotland and H.M. (Lay) Inspector of Constabulary where he had a special responsibility for investigating complaints against the police, he now chairs the Scottish Criminal Cases Review Commission which investigates alleged miscarriages of justice in Scotland. He is a Board member of NHSQIS and serves on the General Medical Council. He was awarded the CBE for "public service in Scotland".

His wife, Jane, is an English teacher and they have three sons.     <top>

Jane Millard has been associated with the Cathedral since being made deacon in 1990. She is the Bishop’s Chaplain to people who are infected and affected by HIV/AIDS.

When she was ordained priest in 1994, Jane was offered an appointment as a part-time team priest in the Cathedral, providing her with a strong structure of support for the HIV/AIDS chaplaincy. As a Canon, she is also a member of the Cathedral Chapter. In 1998 Jane took up the full-time post of Vice-Provost. She serves on the Diocesan Mission Committee, and oversees those engaged in Hospital Chaplaincy.     <top>

Dean started life as a teacher before training for the priesthood in 1989. He divides his time equally between the Cathedral, and working on Mission 21, which is the Scottish Episcopal Church’s initiative of renewal and mission. A Benedictine oblate, Dean operates a ministry of hospitality. At the Cathedral, he has set up a men’s group, dealing with issues of male identity in churches today. He is also the member of staff who has responsibility for organising the activities of the senior youth group. Dean is involved in the training of Ordinands and lay-people in the Theological Institute, as well as sitting on the Board for Ministry, the Home Mission Committee and the provincial Education Committee.

He spends most of his spare time cooking for friends and worrying about whether or not his cats are too fat.     <top>

Paul is the most recent addition to the Cathedral team. He lectures in New Testament at the University of Edinburgh. He was made deacon at Michaelmas this year.     <top>

Bishop Patrick Rodger, a much loved member of this Cathedral who died in August 2002, was an ecumenist to his heart. The Cathedral strives to be as ecumenical as possible, and for this reason, to assist dialogue and good relationship with neighbouring churches, the Cathedral has appointed an ecumenical officer, Helen Hood. Helen came to Edinburgh from Doncaster, South Yorkshire, to study Classics in 1973. She has been a member of the Cathedral congregation since 1977. In 1996 she became a student once more, studying Theology this time, and after graduating, took up the part-time honorary post of ecumenical officer in September 2000.

The ecumenical officer’s work involves keeping Cathedral members informed about ecumenical initiatives and developments in Edinburgh and Scotland, and encouraging participation in ecumenical events and activities. The early part of each year provides the majority of ecumenical opportunities, such as the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity and the World Day of Prayer. Since 2001, Helen has organised and administered ecumenical study groups for churches in Edinburgh’s West End during Lent.     <top>

The size of the building, the congregation, and the number of services which take place in the Cathedral (including those large services which involve the Cathedral in its role as the Mother Church of the Edinburgh diocese) as well as the use of the Cathedral as a concert venue etc. mean that there is a great deal of administration, organisation and planning.

Henry Howard and Liz Armitage are normally in the office between 9.30 and 12.30 every weekday, organising events, typing out service sheets, and answering the many and varied inquiries concerning the life of the Cathedral.

Both members of staff are involved in the general running of the office, each having their areas of special responsibility. These include the administration of concerts by outside groups using the Cathedral as a venue, providing back-up to the Secretaries of the Friends of the Cathedral and to the Old Choristers' Association, and in general dealing with routine administrative tasks.

Liz, a long standing member of the Cathedral and previously the lay-representative, is the editor of the Magazine, "Magnificat". For this job she was paid in large amounts of caffeine and muffins, but now receives something a little more substantial.     <top>

In addition to the administration, the fabric of the building constantly needs care. This is the job of the vergers. The vergers’ duties are many and varied: from setting up the altar/hymn books etc for services, to cleaning the numerous brass items, welcoming visitors, providing keys/advice/support for old and new alike. As well as practical care of the Cathedral, the verger has a functional role in services, acting as a sort of Master of Ceremonies, and guiding bewildered priests to their assigned places, such as the pulpit! Colin Campbell as senior verger has considerable experience of the Cathedral, and is a useful source of history to visitors, as well as a source of theology to the clergy!     <top>

The Lay Representative is a member of the congregation elected to represent it for a period of 3 years. The Alternate Lay Representative, also elected, shares the responsibilities and succeeds in due course at the end of the third year. The current representatives are Allan Hood and, as Alternate, Sheila Kidney.

The Lay Representative (or the Alternate) attends various bodies within the Cathedral and the Episcopal Church. These are the Cathedral Board (twice a year), the Cathedral Council (three or four meetings a year), the Southwest Area Council (three meetings), and the annual Diocesan Synod.

Within the congregation the Lay Representative is responsible for setting up Congregational Meetings, which take place three times a year, usually after the 10.30 a.m. service. The autumn meeting takes the form of the Annual General Meeting when the Provost and all the Cathedral organisations present their reports. The other meetings are each devoted to a particular topic, often explaining the work of an organisation in which members of the congregation are involved. The Lay Representative is also a channel for information coming from other organisations, both within the Scottish Episcopal Church and beyond.     <top>

This is chaired by the Provost and provides financial and budgetary advice to the Cathedral Board. It meets quarterly to review income and expenditure, as well as the Cathedral's investments. Its membership embraces financial expertise from within and outwith the Cathedral.

Each year at the start of Lent every member of the congregation receives that year's Stewardship letter. The Cathedral needs more than £4000 each week to maintain its witness and make its contribution to the wider Church. The fact that this is achieved each year reflects the generosity of its members, which in turn has enabled us to expand our activities each year.

The Finance Committee is most aware of the generosity of former members who have remembered the Cathedral through legacies, and thereby enabled the Cathedral both to maintain its pattern of daily worship and to develop its witness.

Marilyn Jeffcoat, senior partner of D M Vaughin & Co, is the Cathedral Treasurer and is always ready to give advice on covenants, gift aid and weekly envelopes.     <top>

The Council, which meets three or four times a year, brings together all the Committee Convenors, the Master of the Music and the Clergy for forward planning and discussion. To keep the Congregation fully informed, congregational meetings are held, with each Committee in turn presenting its work. The appointments of Committee Convenors are ratified at the AGM, to which each Committee makes a formal report.     <top>

The Board is chaired by the Provost and its membership includes the Bishop, the Diocesan Treasurer, the Treasurer and lay members. The Cathedral's endowment is held in its name. It meets twice a year and brings together expertise from both the Cathedral and the Diocese. Its responsibilities include approving the audited accounts, receiving investment and budgetary advice from the Finance Committee, and taking a broad overview of all the Cathedral's activities and future plans.     <top>

This is an opportunity for lay people to become a link reaching out from the Cathedral, to extend fellowship, friendship and care amongst the members of the congregation, scattered as they are throughout Edinburgh.

The Cathedral's aim is to ensure that every member of the congregation in the city of Edinburgh receives a copy of the Magnificat, delivered if they wish. But being a Pastoral Link Visitor is more than being a delivery service. Visitors pass on any requests for house communion, clergy visits, pastoral assistance or transport to their team leader, or changes of address to the Cathedral Office for the Cathedral Roll. In addition there is another team of visitors who see those in need more often and for longer if necessary.     <top>

The Cathedral magazine, Magnificat, is the main means of information for the congregation. It is published ten times a year and is available at the West End of the Cathedral, or can be delivered. It is dependent upon contributions from congregation members, to provide about Cathedral activities and the ongoing life of the Cathedral. It also depends on people to type, edit, copy and collate it prior to distribution.

Regular features include contributions from Cathedral organisations and individual members, such as "Light a Candle" feature which suggests themes for intercessory prayer.