St Ninian's is the Cathedral of the Diocese of St Andrews, Dunkeld and Dunblane. It is called a Cathedral because it contains the throne or seat ('cathedra' in Greek and Latin) of the Bishop. Our Bishop is the Rt Revd Ian Paton. The Cathedral is run by the Provost, assisted by the Chapter and Vestry and a team of clergy and lay ministers.
The Cathedral congregation come from many churches and countries – some of us have been at St Ninian's Cathedral for decades while others have just joined. We welcome all ages and nationalities – those seeking to find their spiritual home in Perth and those who are simply visiting. People at all stages of faith and doubt are welcome at St Ninian's Cathedral.
Those with special ministries in our Cathedral include:
Father Stephen was installed as Provost in September 2024. He was previously Rector of Holy Cross, Edinburgh and before that was Rector of Padstow in Cornwall and Associate Rector of St John’s, Princes Street, Edinburgh. He is married to Izzy and they have two daughters.
For 18 years Father Stephen was a Benedictine monk and he maintains a strong interest in Christian spirituality and worship. Educated at the Universities of St Andrews, Cambridge and Edinburgh, he teaches trainee priests at the Scottish Episcopal Institute and is passionate about making the riches of the Christian tradition accessible to all. He is also a historian, a Fellow of the Royal Historical Society, and has published a number of books and articles, mainly on Christian worship and Scottish church history.
The Chapter of the Cathedral consists of the Bishop, the Provost, the Dean of the Diocese and other priests who are called Canons. The Chapter acts as the permanent advisory council of the Bishop.
The Provost is supported by a team of ordained and lay ministers.
Born in Carmarthenshire, Fr Philip is a graduate of St David’s University College Lampeter and a post graduate of the University of Oxford. He trained for the priesthood at Chichester Theological College. Ordained a deacon and priest in the Diocese of St Davids, he has served in parishes in Wales and England and as an Army Chaplain. Fr Philip is an oblate of Pluscarden Abbey and a priest of the Society of Catholic Priests. Home is in Rannoch where he lives with his wife Sue and Willow and Simba, two adorable dogs.
Fr Ross is Assistant Curate at St Columba’s, Stanley, and St Ninian’s Cathedral, Perth. He was ordained to the Priesthood in June 2025. Before moving to Perthshire, Ross lived in Fife and spent over a decade as a lecturer in Scottish further education. Alongside his ministry, he serves as Convenor of the Diocesan Global Partnerships Committee and is a member of the Scottish Episcopal Church’s Provincial Global Partnerships Committee. He is also a Postulant in the Third Order of the Society of St Francis, exploring and seeking to live out the Franciscan values of prayer, simplicity, service and care for creation. Ross believes that faith is something to be lived out in everyday life, beyond the walls of the church. His ministry is rooted in the love of Christ, with a particular emphasis on hospitality, inclusivity and building relationships — whether through worship, pastoral care, community engagement or simply sharing a conversation over a cup of coffee.
Outside of ministry, Ross loves to travel and experience different cultures, often finding inspiration and spiritual insight through the people and places he encounters. He shares his home with his husband, Ray, who works in Allied Healthcare, and their much-loved rescue cats
Lis has been licensed as a Lay Reader at the Cathedral since 2020. Since her first licensing in 2013 she has served as Lay Reader with several other congregations in Perth and Eastern Perthshire. In her role as the Diocesan Warden of Lay Readers she supports other Lay Readers around the diocese. Lis is also involved in promoting and supporting all forms of lay ministry, both within the Cathedral and also in the wider context of the diocese, and is an NHS ward visitor in Perth Royal Infirmary. Lis is married with two adult daughters and five grandchildren. In 2026 she was made an honorary Canon of our diocese.
Maihri is training for the priesthood at the Scottish Episcopal Institute. She has a PhD in Developmental Psychology and, before beginning her theological training, worked as a Norland nanny, supporting children and families in a variety of contexts around the world. These experiences continue to shape her approach to ministry.
At St Ninian’s Cathedral, Maihri is part of the children’s ministry team and is involved in chaplaincy at St Ninian’s Episcopal Primary School, and in pastoral and outreach work within the wider community. She values the quieter, relational aspects of ministry, including visiting those who are housebound, sharing home communion, and spending time with people across the life of the cathedral community.
Maihri lives in Perth with her husband, James, and their son.
Lay ministers work alongside the clergy in visiting the housebound and bringing them Holy Communion; they also occasionally minister the chalice at Mass. We also have a childrens' ministery team who run Sunday Club and Toddler Church and provide support to families at the Cathedral. There are many different types of lay ministry but for these ministries people are nominated by the Provost and authorised by the Bishop of St Andrews, Dunkeld and Dunblane.
The Vestry or church council are the trustees of the Cathedral and, led by the Provost, are responsible for managing the temporal affairs of the congregation including the Cathedral finances. Different members of the vestry hold different responsibilities and meet regul;arly during the year to address various aspects of the running of the Cathedral. This can range from organising specific Cathedral events to discussing plans for the upkeep and restoration of the building. The officials of Vestry include:
Chairman of Vestry - The Provost
Vice-Chairman of Vestry - John Wright
Secretary - Maureen Wright
Treasurer - Christopher Ahern
Lay Representative - Wendy Duncan
Alternate Lay Representative - John Wright
Safeguarding Coordinator - Maihri Greenwood
Property Convener - Erica Knott
Cathedral Bookings - James Gardner