On Thursday 18 September 2025, Northampton Cathedral welcomed the installation of Canon Christopher Perry and Canon Simon Penhalagan, Dean of the Cathedral, into the Cathedral Chapter. The celebration took place during midday prayer, in the presence of their brother Canons gathering to witness this important moment in the life of our Diocese. Pictures from the Installation can be viewed here
What is a Canon?
A canon is a priest who has been specially appointed to serve as a member of the Cathedral Chapter, a body that supports the bishop in the governance of the cathedral and, historically, in the wider governance of the diocese. Canons have both a symbolic and a practical role: they are called to model prayerful service, safeguard the mission of the Church, and strengthen the unity of clergy and people around the bishop.
The Chapter of Canons in Northampton – A Living Tradition
The origins of cathedral chapters go back to the early centuries of the Church, when bishops gathered trusted clergy around them to share in the care of the local church. In Northampton, this tradition took formal shape on 24 June 1852, when Bishop William Wareing, the first Bishop of Northampton, established the Cathedral Chapter.
The newly appointed chapter was entrusted with two main responsibilities: to assist the bishop in his pastoral care of the diocese, and, in the event of the bishop’s death, to assume his jurisdiction until a successor was appointed. At such times, the canons were required to elect a Vicar Capitular and present three names of possible new bishops to Rome.
Bishop Wareing appointed the first canons according to seniority of ordination, with the distinguished priest and author Frederick Charles Husenbeth elected as Provost. Husenbeth was a prolific scholar, with forty-nine books to his name, including his well-known biography of Bishop Milner. Alongside him were John Abbot, Thomas Macquaran (Penitentiary), Seth Eccles, John Dalton, Thomas Quinliven, George Rigby, Thomas Seed, Henry Thrower, Joseph Mayland (Theologian), and John Morris.
The earliest meetings were held in modest surroundings — a simple room above the old chapel, later nicknamed the “dormitory,” which Bishop Wareing designated as the Chapter Room. From the beginning, the canons combined solemn duty with practical organisation: Cardinal Wiseman himself summoned them to elect a representative for the Provincial Synod at Oscott in July 1852, a task they entrusted to Provost Husenbeth.
By the mid-1850s, rules and customs began to take shape. The Chapter agreed to meet monthly, and it was decreed that every Chapter Mass should be offered for the benefactors of the diocese, both living and dead. When a canon died, a High Mass of Requiem was to be sung, followed by prayers and an additional Mass offered by one of the canons. Missionary rectors were also appointed to serve key centres of Catholic life in Cambridge, Lynn, Marlow, Norwich, and Stoke-by-Nayland.
Daily life in those years was not without its lighter moments. At one meeting, Bishop Wareing announced that he could provide only a simple breakfast at a cost of one shilling per canon, noting that “all could be on their way home by one o’clock.”
Attention was also given to the distinctive dress of the canons. By 1868, Propaganda Fide in Rome had confirmed the use of the rochet for canons and the cappa parva for provosts, with additional insignia reserved for archbishops. Through Cardinal Wiseman and later Bishop Amherst, the details of Northampton’s choral dress were carefully settled, including an unusual local custom: the wearing of a ring by Northampton Canons at chapter functions — a tradition whose origin remains a mystery.
Thus began the enduring work of the Chapter: supporting the bishop, organising the life of the young diocese, and steadily building up the Church’s presence across Northamptonshire and beyond.
The Red Cape of a Canon
At their installation, the new canons were clothed in the distinctive red cape, or cappa, which marks their office. This garment, worn over the cassock, is a traditional sign of their membership of the chapter. The red colour is rich in symbolism: it recalls their bond with the bishop and cathedral, and represents their readiness to serve the Church faithfully, even to the point of sacrifice. The cape is not merely ceremonial dress, but a visible reminder of the dignity and responsibility entrusted to them: to uphold the life of prayer in the cathedral and to support the mission of the Church throughout the diocese.
A Moment of Joy for the Diocese
The installation of Canon Christopher Perry and Canon Simon Penhalagan was a moment of joy and thanksgiving for the Diocese of Northampton. Their appointment strengthens the life of our Cathedral Chapter and reaffirms the bonds of communion within the local Church. Please keep both of our new canons in your prayers as they take up this new responsibility in service of Christ and His people.
