FIVE new canons were welcomed into Salisbury Cathedral’s College of Canons at an evensong service.

Each new canon has been allocated a stall in the Cathedral Quire and together, with other members of the college, will provide feedback on cathedral activities and policy decisions made by the cathedral’s governing body.

The new canons represent a broad range of expertise and will attend at twice yearly meetings at the cathedral.

Bev Flanagan was installed as a lay canon in the Weymouth stall bringing with her 25 years of experience in further education, most recently as the principal of Buckinghamshire University Technical College.

Nigel Salisbury was installed as the lay canon in Bricklesworth, with Rev William Rogers, Reverend Joanna Abecassis and Weymouth’s Rev Tim West all taking up posts as non-residentiary canons.

Mr West, rural dean and team rector of the Ridgeway church group, was installed in the Preston stall.

He said: “It is a great honour. Visiting the cathedral is a bit like going to London, you always get ideas, it makes you think of the bigger picture.”

Dean of Salisbury, the Very Revd June Osborne, said: “Over the years the College of Canons has been a great source of inspiration, reassurance and wisdom, and together with prayfulness and a deep understanding of the Cathedral’s purpose each member has contributed to the Cathedral and Cathedral life.”