Bishop Andrew has officially opened the newly refurbished and extended administrative offices for the Diocese of Guildford, in the grounds of Guildford Cathedral. The move signals greater collaboration between the Diocese and its ‘Mother Church’.
Church House Guildford has relocated from the Surrey Research Park to its new base next to the Cathedral of the Holy Spirit, on Stag Hill. It returns to what was previously the Diocesan Education Centre until 2017.
The official office opening was marked by a symbolic oak tree planting by Bishop Andrew and the Dean of Guildford, Bob Cooper. They were joined by Bishop Paul, other senior clergy, and diocesan and cathedral staff.
The move will help further the diocesan team’s ambition towards net zero carbon, as it makes considerable financial and environmental savings by operating a smaller office footprint as well as installing green electricity and better insulation.
The move will be the first time the Guildford Diocesan office and Guildford Cathedral have been co-located since the Cathedral was completed in 1965. This follows the trend of more historic dioceses such as Canterbury and Durham who have their offices situated within cathedral grounds.
Speaking of the significant move, Bishop Andrew said:
“I am delighted that Church House Guildford is moving onto the Cathedral site and am deeply grateful to all those who have made the transition quite such a smooth one.
‘Our previous move to the site on the University Research Park brought our central team together for the first time and enabled us to reshape the team considerably in the light of our vision to ‘support the parishes, its churches, schools and communities’.
“Following the pandemic, we realised that the premises were too large and began to revisit a long-term dream to relocate Church House onto the Cathedral site. With Bob Cooper’s recent appointment as Dean, that will herald a new sense of partnership between the two bodies. The move will also be easier for visitors with parking available at the Cathedral, and better public transport links.
“Please pray for our central team as they adjust to their new surroundings, that they might continue to serve and support everyone on the front line of our mission, as we seek to be a ‘Transforming Church, Transforming Lives’ across the diocese and beyond’.”
The Very Reverend Bob Cooper, Dean of Guildford said:
“The relocation of the Guildford Diocesan Office to Stag Hill marks a transformative moment for both Guildford Cathedral and the Diocese of Guildford. This strategic move fosters closer collaboration, enhancing our collective mission to serve the church and the wider community.
“As we look to the future, the synergy between the cathedral and the diocesan office promises to invigorate our shared mission, creating new opportunities for outreach, worship, and community engagement. Together, we stand ready to embrace this exciting chapter, united in purpose and strengthened by our proximity.”