Bishop of Truro announces the appointment of Revd Ali Hogger Gadsby as Interim Dean of Truro
The Rt Revd David Williams, Bishop of Truro, is pleased to announce the appointment of Revd Ali Hogger Gadsby as Interim Dean of Truro.
Ali will be in post until the end of 2026. The process of appointing the Dean of Truro is expected to be completed by the end of the year.
The Reverend Ali Hogger Gadsby is the Dean of Ministry at St Mellitus College, with national oversight of ministry, formation, worship and pastoral life, including being the safeguarding lead. She was also appointed as the Dean of Women’s Ministry in this diocese earlier this year. Ali grew up in the Midlands, and on leaving home, via studying English Literature, she became a Registered Mental Health Nurse and led a team specialising in crisis intervention with the most unwell. During her nursing career, she wrote a column for The Nursing Times, a national nursing journal, relating national and world events to the daily rhythms of nursing. Her call to ordination grew from a sense that God wanted to use her differently in the church and the world, a call that would integrate and build on her nursing experience. Since ordination, she has served as a secondary school chaplain and as an inner-city parish priest in an incumbency in the Diocese of Coventry. Ali has lived in Cornwall since 2024, having moved here as her husband was appointed to a new role.
Bishop David said: “I am delighted that Ali has not only accepted my invitation to be Interim Dean but has been surprised at a growing sense of call to say yes! Ali was an effective Incumbent in Coventry Diocese, and her current role is as Dean of Ministry at St Mellitus College. We are so grateful that Ali will be seconded to Truro Cathedral for the rest of 2026.
Ali brings a deep and vibrant faith and a gracious spirituality. Her leadership is deeply pastoral and also empowering. Please pray for Ali as she picks up this role and joins my leadership team.”
Ali says: "In recent months, I have sensed a nudging of the Holy Spirit to serve the Church with all I have been privileged to learn across the roles I have been called to, and so was hugely excited when I was offered the opportunity by Bishop David to become Interim Dean. Truro Cathedral is a wonderful place with a wonderful call to serve the whole of Cornwall, all people and all places. I am very much looking forward to this season, of the Cathedral being a place of warm welcome, hope, stability and safety, all in the name of Jesus. From this place of worship and stability, there is great opportunity to open the doors wide and be energised for mission, for joining the Bishop and Diocese of Truro in telling all we meet about Jesus and the transformation He brings. Please join us!"
Ali will be collated and installed as a Residentiary Canon at 4.30pm Evensong on 10 May by Bishop David. All are very welcome to attend the service. That point will also mark the beginning of her term as Interim Dean.