Dean Frank and Christine Nelson will be farewelled by the community of St Paul’s Cathedral (Wellington) on Thursday evening, September 13.

Dean Frank is ‘crossing the ditch’ for a new chapter of ministry as Dean of St Peter’s Cathedral in Adelaide.

Nibbles and drinks will be served at St Paul’s from 5.30pm, followed by choral evensong at 7pm.

Canon Jenny Wilkens will be priest-in-charge of St Paul’s until a new dean is chosen.

Dean Frank was appointed to St Paul’s in October 2004 and now looks back on “eight wonderful years, full of challenge and interest, celebration and joy.”

“The wide-ranging scope of the Dean’s ministry has left me, at times, quite breathless, wondering just how or where I would next come up for air,” he says.

“But it is the ordinary everyday things that come across the Dean’s plate that make it such a wonderful job – the ‘heartbeat’ of daily worship; the chance conversations with tourists, seekers, office-workers; the guidance and guiding of a supportive staff, wardens and vestry all dedicated to making the cathedral a sacred space of worship, hospitality and education.”

Dean Frank will be installed at St Peter's in Adelaide on Friday, October 12. A number of people from Wellington are travelling across for the service.

Meanwhile, 40 of Dean Frank’s sermons from the past eight years will be published early next month.

Entitled “I Sing Because I Have a Song: Speaking from our Sacred Space”, the book can be ordered from the St Paul’s office for $25 (including GST).

Phone 04 472-0286 or write to PO Box 12-044, Wellington 6144.