The Cathedral of St. John the Divine appoints Winnie Varghese as 12th dean
The Cathedral Church of Saint John the Divine
in New York City Appoints
the Reverend Winnie Varghese as 12th Dean of the Cathedral
The world’s largest Gothic Cathedral and Episcopal Church welcomes
its first-ever female dean as it continues to serve
the diverse people of the diocese, city, nation and world
The Rev. Winnie Varghese (Photo: David Rider)
The Board of Trustees of The Cathedral Church of Saint John the Divine announces the appointment of the Reverend Winnie Varghese as the 12th Dean of the Cathedral of St. John the Divine, 1047 Amsterdam Avenue (at 112th Street), making her the first woman to serve as dean of the world’s largest Gothic Cathedral. A national leader in The Episcopal Church, Rev. Varghese currently serves as the 23rd Rector of St. Luke’s in Atlanta, GA and is known for her inspired writing, teaching, and preaching. Her first day at the Cathedral will be July 1, 2025.
The Right Reverend Matthew F. Heyd, Bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of New York and Chairman of the Cathedral’s Board of Trustees, said, “Winnie Varghese has long been an inspiring leader whose preaching and writing has changed the Episcopal Church. I’m incredibly excited how her leadership as Dean will help our Cathedral serve as a beacon of hope for New York and the world.”
Frank Brown, President of the Cathedral’s Board of Trustees, said, “As a national leader in The Episcopal Church, we are looking forward to welcoming Rev. Winnie Varghese back to New York City to lead the Cathedral community as we continue our 125+ year mission to be a house of prayer for all people, an instrument of church unity, and a center of intellectual light.”
Prior to joining St. Luke’s, the Rev. Varghese served as Priest for Ministry and Program Coordination at Trinity Church Wall Street in New York City. Prior to Trinity, she served as Rector and Priest-in-Charge at St. Mark’s in the Bowery in New York, and was also Chaplain at both Columbia University and University of California Los Angeles. Rev. Varghese serves on the Board of Trustees of Union Theological Seminary, she chaired the General Convention’s Committee on the State of the Church from 2015 to 2018, and she served on the Board of Trustees of the Episcopal Divinity School from 2013 to 2016. She is also a published author, editor, and podcaster.
The Rev. Varghese is the daughter of Indian immigrants and spent part of her early childhood years in Kerala, India. She attended Agnes Scott College in Decatur, GA and earned her bachelor’s degree from Southern Methodist University in Dallas, TX. She then graduated from Union Theological Seminary with her Master of Divinity degree in 1999. She was ordained to the diaconate in Los Angeles in 1999 and to the priesthood six months later in 2000.
The Dean Designate Winnie Varghese, said, “I am excited to return to New York and to the Cathedral of St. John the Divine which has been an inspiration and sanctuary to me personally and to lead and support the many ministries of this great Cathedral which bears such striking witness to the majesty and mystery of God among us in New York City.”
The Rev. Varghese steps into the role of Dean following the tenure of the Very Reverend Patrick Malloy, 11th Dean of the Cathedral, who leaves the Cathedral at the end of June 2025. As 12th Dean of the Cathedral, Rev. Varghese will continue to carry out the institution’s mission as a house of worship and welcoming community for all people.
For more information, visit www.stjohndivine.org and follow on Instagram, Facebook and TikTok @StJohnDivineNYC.
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About The Cathedral
As the largest Gothic Cathedral in the world founded in 1892, the trustees of the Cathedral Church of Saint John the Divine conceived its mission to be a house of prayer for all people, an instrument of church unity, and a center of intellectual light and leading in the spirit of Jesus Christ.
Today, as the mother church of the Episcopal Diocese of New York and the seat of its bishop, the Cathedral Church of Saint John the Divine serves the many diverse people of our diocese, city, nation and world through the worship of God; pastoral, educational and community outreach activities; cultural and civic events; international ecumenical initiatives; and the preservation of the great architectural and historic site that is its legacy.
For more information, visit www.stjohndivine.org and follow on Instagram, Facebook and TikTok @StJohnDivineNYC.
Media Contacts
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