As the Dean of Coventry leads his final service, his portrait is - PDF document

To: Newsdesk From: Christine Doyle Date: 30 th July 2012 Tel: 024 7652 1226/07769 738180 As the Dean of Coventry leads his final service, his portrait is presented to the Cathedral by local artist Jill Swarbrick-Banks

The portrait of The Right Revd John Irvine, Dean of Coventry will be displayed in the Provost ’ s Vestry along side those of his predecessors. On Sunday 29 th July, as the Dean of Coventry closed his final service in the Cathedral, the community gathered to see the unveiling of his portrait. The portrait was painted by local artist Jill Swarbrick-Banks, who has been the artist-in- residence at the Cathedral since February and has generously gifted the new portrait of the departing Dean to the Cathedral “I was thrilled to be asked to be the artist -in-residence for the Cathedral’s Golden Jubilee year. We’re just over half way through and it’s been wonderful to be part of the celebrations and to see the daily life of the Cathedral and how it has such a wonderful impact on visitors,’ commented Jill, ‘Creating the portrait of John was a huge honour and I’m proud of the portrait knowing that it will mean so much, to so many people.’ ‘C reating a portrait of our Dean is a trad ition long held at Coventry Cathedral,’ commented The Reverend Canon Dr David Stone, Canon Precentor , ‘There have been five Deans (or Provosts as they were once known) in the past 50 years all of whom have a portrait displayed in our Provost ’ s Vestry. We will all miss John immensely and this painting captures him really well, so we will have a permanent reminder of John not only in the fruits of the ministry that he has led here but also in the portrait.’ The process for appointing a new Dean is under way. -ends- For press enquiries, please contact Christine Doyle on 024 7652 1226 or 07769 738180. Notes to Editor Coventry Cathedral 2012 is the year that Coventry Cathedral is celebrating its Golden Jubilee - a landmark occasion recognising 50 years of service to Coventry's community and the world, both through its unique international mission of peace and reconciliation, and as a cultural centre for the performing arts. For 50 years, the cathedral has been a dynamic centre of worship and mission, a place of pilgrimage, liturgical creativity, and healing; a focus for reconciliation locally, nationally and internationally; for education and the arts; a venue for national services and television and radio broadcasts; and a focal point for the City, the region, and even for the world. The Very Reverend John Irvine MA Dean of Coventry John Irvine, son of the late Rt. Hon Sir Arthur Irvine QC, MP and Lady Irvine, started his career in law, practicing at the Bar until 1979, when he changed his life path to follow his calling to ordination and attended Oxford University to read Theology. In 1981 he was ordained deacon and served at Holy Trinity Brompton for four years where he helped to establish the 10 week Alpha Course. This is a short practical introduction to the Christian faith that has now spread all over the world. He led the

first “church plant” from HTB in 1985 to St Barnabas, Kensington where he was Vicar for 16 years. He was appointed Dean of Coventry and Dean of the Community of the Cross of Nails (CCN) in 2001 where, as the leader of the worshipping community at Coventry Cathedral, John is responsible for vision, mission and outreach. He has a high profile role within the City of Coventry and, as a member of the Bishop’s staff; he also has a clear Diocesan role. The CCN role presents an international platform through which John promotes the Cathedral as an International Centre of Reconciliation , something he believes is ‘God’s thumbprint’ on the Cathedral, an essential element of its DNA. He is married to Andrea (also ordained). They have 4 grown up children and 6 grandchildren so far! His hobbies include chess, film and reading historical fiction. John and the whole family are firm supporters of Tottenham Hotspur! Jill Swarbrick-Banks Born in London in 1959, Jill Swarbrick-Banks grew up in Oxshott, Surrey. Her father was the Military Cartographer and Author, Arthur Banks (known for his collaboration with historian Sir Martin Gilbert, the official biographer of Sir Winston Churchill). It was by watching her father working in his studio and on the living room table (to her mother ’ s annoyance) was Jill’s in itial artistic inspiration. Upon leaving school, Jill a music lover, went on to work in several record shops and even for a spell in the Royal Mail before enrolling at City & East London College, identifying Fine Art as her vocation. It was there where she was taught by the painters Harry Robertson and Ged Wensley and the Sculptor Julie Stanley (nee Kay). Jill then studied Painting at the Academie Minerva in The Netherlands where she concentrated on the genres of Portraiture and Abstract painting.