Canon Michael Branch
Cathedral Dean
cathedraldean@rcaos.org.uk
Canon Michael Branch was formed for the priesthood at Campion House, Osterley, and St John’s Seminary, Wonersh. He was ordained priest on the 31st May 1997, serving as assistant priest at St Joseph’s, Roehampton and St Saviour’s, Lewisham. In 2006 he became Parish Priest of St Patrick’s, Plumstead. He then spent nine years as Parish Priest at St Peter’s, Woolwich, before taking on his present position as Dean of St George’s Cathedral. Canon Michael is delighted to have returned to the area where he originates. In fact, he was born at the top of Westminster Bridge Road and the Cathedral is where generations of his family have received the sacraments.
See the Dean's Welcome here.
Father Joseph Donkor
Sub Dean
josephdonkor@rcaos.org.uk
Fr Joseph is a priest of the Diocese of Goaso, a vocation he became aware at an early age while he was still at Junior High school at my hometown of Techimantia, Ghana. He was ordained a deacon and was placed in the Mary, Seat of Wisdom Chaplaincy of the distinguished University of Cape Coast and later ordained to the preisthood in 2004.
Following his experience of various ministries within the Diocese, he was offered generous support to study the discipline of education at St Mary’s University, Twickenham. Following his time as priest in residence at Sacred Heart Wimbledon, he joined St Georges Cathedral as Sub Dean in October 2023.
Father Dermott O'Gorman
Assistant Priest
dermottogorman@rcaos.org.uk
Father Dermott is originally from Wallington and completed his priestly formation at St. John's Seminary in Wonersh. He was ordained to the priesthood by Archbishop John in July 2020 and has since been serving as the Assistant Priest at St. George's. Prior to his calling to the priesthood, Fr. Dermott worked as a Civil Servant for several years and was connected to the Cathedral community through his regular attendance at daily Mass.
Father Robert Sugg
Priest in Residence
Fr Sugg trained in the St John’s Seminary, Wonersh in 1985 until 1990. Following his ordination to the Diaconate on 7th July 1990, he worked as a Deacon in the Parish St Andrew’s in Thornton Heath. Fr Robert was then ordained as a priest on 9th June 1991 at St George’s Cathedral by Archbishop Michael Bowen.
Fr Robert has worked at many different parishes in Kent and Surrey and also spent four years at the Catholic Missionary Society as part of team travelling to various parishes throughout England and Wales. During this period he also travelled to Loyola University in Chicago to participate in training courses for the CMS. He then returned to work in UK parishes before finally returning to the place of his ordination, his home parish of St George’s Cathedral. Fr Sugg enjoys history, particularly Tudors and Stuarts, and reading and puzzles.
Rev Javier Elderfield
Cathedral Administrator and Deacon
cathedraladministrator@rcaos.org.uk
Deacon Javier is a married permanent deacon with a family of five children. He was ordained in 2009 and was appointed to St Saviour's parish, Lewisham Deanery, ministering there for twelve years. He worked full time as the Chaplaincy coordinator for Christ the King Sixth Forms, based at CTK Emmanuel, Lewisham for 21 years. Before then he worked as a secondary school music teacher. Deacon Javier now works as the Cathedral Administrator. He and his wife are the Diocesan Marriage and Family Life (MFL) Bereavement ministry coordinators.
Cathedral Staff:
Mark Meaney
Site & Facilities Manager - cathedralfacilities@rcaos.org.uk
Jonathan Schranz
Diocesan Director of Music - cathedralmusic@rcaos.org.uk
Alex Flower
Cathedral Organist
Rachel Costello
Cathedral Secretary - cathedralsecretary@rcaos.org.uk
Visit our Music Department pages to see a full list of Music staff at the Cathedral.
The Archbishop
For information about the Archbishop of Southwark, The Most Reverend John Wilson, please visit the website of the Archdiocese of Southwark.