It was a joyful installation service for the new Archdeacon of Cheltenham, The Venerable Katrina Scott, in Gloucester Cathedral at the end of March.
Surrounded by friends, family, colleagues and members of the diocese, Katrina was officially collated, installed and warmly welcomed into her new role. She said:
“It was incredibly special. There were people from all parts of my life there — my family, congregation members, people I’ve worked with, and those I’ll be working with in the future. It felt like a real gathering of love and support.
“It was a delightful service. The choir and the liturgy in the service were really beautifully put together, and the words of commissioning and installation were very powerful. I felt a real sense of God’s presence, God’s blessing in the service.
“One of the most moving moments of the service came during the anointing, when Bishop Rachel placed oil on my hand as a sign of God’s blessing and commissioning. It’s not just a new job, it’s a new calling — a new part of God’s ministry that I’ve been invited into.”
The role of an archdeacon involves both spiritual and practical leadership. At the service, the Collation welcomes an archdeacon into the spiritual side of the role, while the Installation focuses on the legal responsibilities. The Reverend Canon Craig Huxley-Jones, Canon Precentor and Director of Congregational Development, said:
“The first part of the service admitted Katrina in a spiritual way, focusing on roles like taking services, preaching and teaching. This is a ministry that all priests receive from the Bishop, which is why Bishop Rachel says, ‘Receive this cure of souls, which is both yours and mine’, ‘cure’ meaning ‘care’.
“The second part admitted Katrina to the legal elements of the role of Archdeacon. Beneath all of this is a warm welcome and a deep joy as Katrina begins a new ministry in the diocese.”
Katrina brings with her a strong sense of vocation that has grown and evolved throughout her ministry.
“Since I was 12, I’ve felt called to share God’s love with others,” she said. “In parish ministry, that meant supporting schools, congregations, and communities. Now, in this new role, it’s about enabling others to do that — helping them flourish where they are.”
Her previous roles include Dean of Women’s Ministry in the Diocese of Coventry, and Chair of the House of Clergy.
“I really enjoyed those roles as ways of encouraging, enabling and supporting others to be able to share God’s love in their settings. For me, that’s at the heart of it — with all of the connections in the diocese, how can I help to support ministry at that real grassroots level?”
Katrina has served in the diocese since 2015, most recently as Area Dean of North Cotswold and Rector of a cluster of Cotswold parishes, including the Guitings, Cutsdean, Farmcote, and the Slaughters.
As Archdeacon of Cheltenham, Katrina now supports churches and clergy across Cheltenham, Tewkesbury, Cirencester and the Cotswolds.
“I know some of the area well, but I’m really looking forward to getting to know it even more. There’s a wonderful mix of villages, market towns, and urban areas like Cheltenham and Cirencester. Every community is different and diverse — and that’s something I really love.
“I’m looking forward to celebrating all that’s happening, whether traditional or new, and being someone who encourages and enables that ministry to flourish.”
Now officially in post, Katrina’s initial focus is on learning the scope of her new responsibilities and building relationships across the archdeaconry. “My first priorities are lots of induction meetings and getting to know people. The key thing is getting out into deaneries, parishes, and communities – building relationships is the most important part,” she said.
You can contact Archdeacon Katrina here.
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