Raymond Furnell
Encyclopedia
The Very Reverend Dr Raymond Furnell (18 May 1936 – 10 July 2006) was the Dean of York Minster
from 1994 to 2003.
His first ecclesiastical post was as curate at Cannock
, in the Diocese of Lichfield
, from 1965 to 1969. From there, he moved to become vicar of Clayton
part of Newcastle-under-Lyme, a position he held from 1969-1975. He then became Rural Dean
for Stoke North - a post he held until 1981 when he became Provost
of Bury St Edmunds. He remained in that post until his move to York
in 1994.
Following his retirement, he returned to Suffolk
but was a regular visitor to York. While Dean of York, he played a driving role in the presentation of the York Mystery Plays
to celebrate the Millennium.
York Minster
York Minster is a Gothic cathedral in York, England and is one of the largest of its kind in Northern Europe alongside Cologne Cathedral. The minster is the seat of the Archbishop of York, the second-highest office of the Church of England, and is the cathedral for the Diocese of York; it is run by...
from 1994 to 2003.
His first ecclesiastical post was as curate at Cannock
Cannock
Cannock is the most populous of three towns in the district of Cannock Chase in the central southern part of the county of Staffordshire in the West Midlands region of England....
, in the Diocese of Lichfield
Diocese of Lichfield
The Diocese of Lichfield is a Church of England diocese in the Province of Canterbury, England. The bishop's seat is located in the Cathedral Church of the Blessed Virgin Mary and Saint Chad in the city of Lichfield. The diocese covers 4,516 km² The Diocese of Lichfield is a Church of England...
, from 1965 to 1969. From there, he moved to become vicar of Clayton
Clayton, Staffordshire
Clayton is a suburb and a ward in the south of Newcastle-under-Lyme, Staffordshire.-Today:Clayton lies on the boundary between urban and rural Staffordshire, not far from the Shropshire border...
part of Newcastle-under-Lyme, a position he held from 1969-1975. He then became Rural Dean
Rural Dean
In the Anglican Communion and the Roman Catholic Church, a Rural Dean presides over a Rural Deanery .-Origins and usage:...
for Stoke North - a post he held until 1981 when he became Provost
Provost (religion)
A provost is a senior official in a number of Christian churches.-Historical Development:The word praepositus was originally applied to any ecclesiastical ruler or dignitary...
of Bury St Edmunds. He remained in that post until his move to York
York Minster
York Minster is a Gothic cathedral in York, England and is one of the largest of its kind in Northern Europe alongside Cologne Cathedral. The minster is the seat of the Archbishop of York, the second-highest office of the Church of England, and is the cathedral for the Diocese of York; it is run by...
in 1994.
Following his retirement, he returned to Suffolk
Suffolk
Suffolk is a non-metropolitan county of historic origin in East Anglia, England. It has borders with Norfolk to the north, Cambridgeshire to the west and Essex to the south. The North Sea lies to the east...
but was a regular visitor to York. While Dean of York, he played a driving role in the presentation of the York Mystery Plays
York Mystery Plays
The York Mystery Plays, more properly called the York Corpus Christi Plays, are a Middle English cycle of forty-eight mystery plays, or pageants, which cover sacred history from the creation to the Last Judgement. These were traditionally presented on the feast day of Corpus Christi...
to celebrate the Millennium.