Although many associate religious callings with ordained ministry, Gloucester Cathedral archivist Rebecca Phillips explains how her lay role fulfils a deep sense of vocation.
Rebecca Phillips is the Archivist at Gloucester Cathedral. She is responsible for preserving historic documents that date from the 1390s to the present, and she also leads historical tours of the Cathedral’s library.
Though some have suggested she consider ordination, Rebecca feels more aligned with her current work. She also volunteers as her parish treasurer, a role she enjoys and understands the importance of in keeping parishes running. Although she doesn’t rule out ordination in the future, she is content in her current calling.
She explained, “Applying for the Cathedral archivist role felt right. As well as having a religious upbringing, I had lived in Gloucester and worked in the diocese for a number of years before this, working in the offices and helping with parish trusts and property. It all just fell into place, to apply my different skills, passion and knowledge. I have many years to see if my call to ordination might become stronger in the future, but for now I am happy and comfortable where I am.”
Rebecca grew up in a Christian family, her father becoming a priest when she was 11. While she initially considered archaeology due to her love of the TV show ‘Time Team’, her interest shifted to archives after discovering a 19th-century parish priest’s handwritten notebook in a box of church records. This sparked her passion to archival work, leading to her career as a Cathedral archivist.
“My day-to-day role is deeply connected to my faith. As I look after the heritage and history of the Cathedral, I have a special opportunity to work with people who are interested in the history of our faith community. I talk with retired and working priests, worshippers, people involved in the Cathedral music community. On library tours, I come into contact with members of the public who are on their own faith journeys, and I end up having random conversations about faith.
“At least 50% of the archives and library books I work with are explicitly religious. It is as though I am a fish, and my faith is the water I am swimming in.”
Part of Rebecca’s job is working on projects promoting the mission and values of the Church, one of which is the Cathedral’s Connected Lives project: “I’ve been deeply involved in the research for this project, which explores the histories of individuals memorialised in the building. It was initially inspired by the murder of George Floyd in 2020, and Gloucester City Council worked with us to review items linked to the Transatlantic slave trade. We’ve since expanded it, recognising that while slavery is a major issue, it’s not the only difficult aspect of our history. We’re now examining connections to the East India Company and historical views on other faiths that are no longer acceptable.
“Our faith should guide us toward justice, and that means confronting both past and present injustices.”
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