Clergy
The Right Rev’d Andrew Asbil
Bishop of Toronto
moreContact Bishop Andrew
Bishop Andrew came to St. James Cathedral in 2016 from Church of the Redeemer in midtown Toronto. Previous to that Incumbency, he was the Rector of the Church of the Incarnation in Oakville, and St. Alban’s in Acton. In January of 2019 he was installed as Bishop of the Diocese of Toronto.
Visit the Diocesan website for a full biography.
The Very Rev’d Dr. Stephen Hance
Rector of St. James Cathedral
and Dean of Toronto
moreContact
The Very Rev’d Dr. Stephen Hance
(416) 364-7865, ext. 226
The Very Revd Dr. Stephen Hance was installed as Dean of Toronto and Rector of St. James Cathedral on Sunday, January 14, 2024.
He was formerly the National Lead for Evangelism and Witness for the Church of England. He was until 2019 the Dean of Derby. He trained for the ministry at St. John’s Nottingham and was ordained in Portsmouth Diocese where he served his curacy at St. Jude’s Southsea. He then served as Team Vicar of St. Saviour’s Hanley Road (London Diocese) before moving to Southwark Diocese in 1999, where he was Vicar of Ascension Balham Hill and then Director of Mission and Evangelism for the Diocese and Canon Missioner at the Cathedral.
He has a BSc in Sociology from Portsmouth University (where he also met his wife Jacqui), a BTh and MA from Nottingham University, a DMin from Asbury Theological Seminary (USA), and a Masters in Public Administration from Birmingham University.
Responsibilities in the wider Church of England and beyond have included being a member of General Synod, a member of the Council of Intercontinental Church Society, a trustee of Just Earth, President of the Alumni Council of Asbury Theological Seminary, and founder/convener of the Cathedrals and Growth Network.
He has written or contributed to books on Fresh Expressions, Mission Action Planning, forgiveness, confirmation, parenting, and preaching.
Stephen is passionate about the Church, the mission of God in the world, and enabling people to flourish. He has travelled widely, especially in Africa (where he was born) and North America.
He loves music, can often be found at a concert or listening to music at home (on vinyl, preferably) and is a musician himself. Stephen and Jacqui have three adult children, Eliott, Simeon, and Isaac. They enjoy the theatre, friendship, hospitality, and God’s creation.
The Rev’d Canon Dr. Stephen Fields
Sub-Dean & Vicar
moreContact The Sub-Dean & Vicar
(416) 364-7865, ext. 235
Stephen, a son of Barbados, was called to serve in our Diocese in 1993. He holds the Diploma in Theology and Bachelor of Arts (Theology, Codrington College/University of the West Indies), the Master of Sacred Theology (the General Theological Seminary), and the Doctor of Ministry degree (Transformational Leadership, the Graduate Theological Foundation). He has given pastoral leadership in the parishes of St. Michael and All Angels, St. Stephen’s, Downsview, and, until his appointment to the cathedral, at Holy Trinity, Thornhill. His ministry has extended beyond parochial boundaries to include the wider community, diocese, national and international church. He has served the Diocese as a member of Diocesan Council, Executive Board, General Synod, and many other boards, working groups and committees. With a passion for social justice, much of his ministry has been committed to youth ministry, anti-bias and anti-racism work. He has served with church and para-church agencies that are committed to the social and spiritual development of the neighbourhoods where he has ministered. He is supported by his wife, Lucy, an education administrator, and their two sons, Marc and Luke, and Valerie, his mother-in-law. He loves writing prayers, travelling, cricket, calypso, and is a student of the guitar.
The Rev’d Canon Beth Benson
Interim Associate Priest
moreContact The Rev’d Canon Beth Benson
(416) 364-7865, ext. 237
416-809-2103
Beth serves as Interim Associate Priest on a part time basis. She has oversight and coordination of our pastoral care ministry and supports our liturgical planning and leadership ministries. After a career in teaching and the environmental not for profit sector, Beth returned to post-graduate education at the Toronto School of Theology in 2000 and is a graduate of Wycliffe College. She served as a student intern at the Cathedral in the Summer of 2003.
Beth retired early in 2020 after sixteen years in parish ministry in the Diocese of Toronto. From 2015 she led the amalgamation of four parishes in the Parkdale-West Toronto Deanery into a new congregation named the Church of St. Mary and St. Martha. In addition to her ministry at the Cathedral, Beth is a Clergy Coach in our Diocese and serves as Chair of the Board of Management of the Church of Epiphany St Mark, Parkdale. She is also a member of the Strategy Committee of the Anglican Foundation of Canada.
The Rev’d Matthew Waterman
Assistant Curate
moreContact The Rev’d Matthew Waterman
(416) 364-7865, ext. 254
Matthew joined St. James Cathedral as Assistant Curate in May 2024. He graduated from Wycliffe College Toronto in 2020 with a Master of Divinity, after having obtained a Bachelor’s degree in music from the University of Toronto in 2017. Prior to his ordination in May 2024, Matthew served in various roles in the Diocese of Toronto, and for a time in the Episcopal Diocese of Texas. Matthew looks forward to embracing his apprenticeship in ministry at St. James Cathedral.
The Rev’d Walter Hannam
Vicar, St. Bart’s, Regent Park
moreContact Father Hannam
A native of Nova Scotia’s Annapolis Valley, Father Hannam held the chair of Theology and Anglican Studies at the College of Emmanuel and St Chad in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan for seven years before his appointment at St James Cathedral and St Bart’s. He holds degrees from the University of King’s College (B.A. Classics, Philosophy), Dalhousie University (M.A. Classical and Patristic Philosophy), and Boston College (Ph.D. Theology). Father Hannam was made Deacon and ordained to the Sacred Priesthood in the Diocese of Saskatchewan, where he served as Chaplain of St Mary’s Church, Prince Albert; he also served as Honorary Assistant at All Saints’ Parish in the Diocese of Saskatoon. Father Hannam is married to Sarah, a professional librarian.
Dean Emeritus
The Very Rev’d Duncan Abraham
Honorary Assistants
The Rev’d Jo-Anne Billinger
The Rev’d David Bousfield
The Rev’d Lynn Braye
The Rev’d Dr. David Danner
The Rev’d Canon Edmund Der
The Rev’d Canon Douglas Graydon
The Ven. Thomas M. Greene
The Rev’d Canon John Hill
The Most Rev’d Colin Johnson
The Rev’d Canon Kate Merriman
Some of the bishops and clergy who preside and officiate on Sundays and weekdays at the Eucharist and Evensong in the cathedral.
They, with some spouses, shared fellowship at a celebration of the Eucharist and lunch.
