The Queen has approved the nomination of the Reverend Prebendary Keith Michael Jukes BA, Vicar of Selby Abbey, to be appointed Dean of the Cathedral Church of St Peter and St Wilfrid, Ripon following the resignation of the Very Reverend John Alan Robert Methuen MA on 31 December 2005.

The announcement was made by Downing Street at 11am today, Tuesday November 14th, and at the same time Prebendary Jukes and his wife the Revd Susanne Jukes were welcomed to Ripon Cathedral by the Bishop of Ripon and Leeds, the Rt. Revd John Packer, and the Cathedral Chapter.

The Reverend Prebendary Keith Jukes (aged 52) studied at Leeds University for his BA and then trained for the ministry at Lincoln theological College. He served his title at Wordsley, Lichfield from 1978 to 1981 and Wolverhampton from 1981 to 1983. He was curate-in-charge of Stoneydelph St Martin Conventional District from 1983 to 1988. From 198 to 1991 he was Team Rector of Glascote and Stoneydelph and from 1990-1991 also Rural Dean of Tamworth. Additionally from 1984 to 1990 he was visiting lecturer in liturgy to the West Midlands Ordination Training Course at Queen's College Birmingham. He was Team Rector of Cannock and Vicar of Hatherton from 1991 to 1997. From 1996 to 1997 he was a Prebendary of Lichfield Cathedral. From 1997 to 1999 he was Priest-in-charge of Selby Abbey, York diocese and has been Vicar since 1999. Throughout his ministry he has been involved in civic and is currently serving as Chaplain to the Chairman of North Yorkshire County Council. For eight years, whilst in Selby, he served as a non-executive director of the York Hospitals NHS Trust.

Prebendary Jukes said he was privileged and delighted to be appointed to the role of Dean of Ripon. "I am delighted to accept the invitation to be the next Dean of Ripon. At a time when there is a renewed interest in spirituality, our Cathedrals are important places of pilgrimage, worship and encounter. In this regard I look forward to working with Bishop John Packer, my senior colleagues and the whole cathedral community in furthering the work of the Cathedral as parish church and as mother church of the diocese of Ripon and Leeds. Additionally, Susanne and I look forward to moving to Ripon, making new friends and playing a full part in the life of the city."

The Revd Susanne Jukes is Priest-in-charge of Monk Fryston and South Milford in the Diocese of York. She and her husband have two grown-up children, Laura and Matthew. Prebendary Jukes has been a school governor for more than twenty years and has a major interest in the role of the church in education. His other interests include photography, graphic design and music.

Welcoming Preb. Jukes, Bishop Packer commented, "I am delighted that Keith Jukes has accepted the invitation to become the Dean of Ripon. He has enhanced and revitalised the ministry of Selby Abbey and overseen extensive restoration work there. He has also had a strong civic presence within the town. He is exactly the sort of person to provide leadership for our cathedral and to develop the relationship between the Cathedral and city.

"I am particularly grateful to Michael Glanville-smith as Acting Dean and to Keith Punshon as his senior colleague for their sensitive ministry over the past two years. There has been much healing in the Cathedral and Keith will be able to continue and develop this."