Until the end of the 19th Century, Deaneries were called ‘Rectories’, from the Latin word ‘Rector’ meaning a governor or guide, and Parishes were ‘Rectory Churches’. We are not sure why the name was changed but ‘Dean’ does have a ‘softer’ meaning as the head of a group of clergy. Salisbury Deanery, therefore, is the area in which our Dean, Canon Michael FitzPatrick VF, and his Clergy, carry out their ministries of service to us, the Deanery Laity, on behalf of Our Lord Jesus Christ.

In the 1905 National Catholic Directory, Salisbury Deanery was one of eight, in our Diocese, and covered Wincanton and Yeovil as well as Bonham (the Stourhead Parish, which is the ancestral home of the Stourton family - Ed Stourton the Radio 4 news broadcaster is a surviving Catholic member).
Now, Salisbury Deanery is one of thirteen in the Clifton Diocese and is an important part of its communication and decision-making processes. The Church is more democratic than some of us realise and our Deanery Clergy meet, regularly, to discuss our pastoral and temporal issues to provide solutions and to give feedback to our Bishop and our Laity.

Since 1979, there have been Deanery Pastoral Councils, which are part of the chain of Laity involvement in our Diocesan Pastoral Care. Bishop Declan’s current initiative, ‘Seeking The Face of Christ’, is a good example of how every level is invited to take part in giving feedback and taking ownership, via its Parish, Deanery and Diocesan Pastoral Councils. To enable each one of us to contribute, our Bishop has set up a series of events, to which all have been invited to attend. The details are available on your Parish Noticeboard and our Diocesan website www.cliftondiocese.com

Particularly now, when there are so few Priests to minister to us, you have an important part to play. Your knowledge, feelings and input are critical to our spiritual future. Please think seriously about becoming more involved in your Parish and Deanery, whether it is a term on your Parish Pastoral Council or as an organiser/helper in some of its activities. However small you might think your part is, it means a lot to our Catholic Community.