Truro Cathedral has three seats open at its top table

Running a cathedral takes more than clergy and a choir. Behind the services and the stonework sits a board of trustees making the big decisions, and Truro Cathedral is now looking for up to three new people to join it.

The roles are on the Chapter, the cathedral’s governing body. Chapter members are the people who set the direction of the place, look after its money, guard its heritage and back the staff and volunteers who keep it running. The cathedral describes the vacancies as a chance to help provide strategic leadership and champion its mission across Cornwall.

What the role actually involves

A Chapter member is a non-executive charity trustee, which in plain terms means you help steer the organisation without running its day-to-day operations. Trustees set the strategic direction in line with the cathedral’s charitable aims, make sure safeguarding is built into everything the cathedral does, keep its finances sound, and act as custodians of the building, the mission and the values behind it. They also advise the Dean and the cathedral’s chief officers, and represent the Chapter at events.

The time commitment is described as 6 to 10 meetings a year, plus preparation, training and the occasional appearance at events on the cathedral’s behalf. It is an unpaid, voluntary position, though reasonable out-of-pocket expenses are covered in line with Charity Commission rules.

Who they are hoping to hear from

The cathedral is after people with board-level experience and a range of professional backgrounds. It lists recent experience, within the last six years, in areas such as financial management, retail and hospitality, mission development, education, business technology, heritage tourism, and marketing and communications.

There are a few formal requirements too. Applicants need to be at least 18, eligible to serve as a charity trustee under the Charities Act 2011 and the Cathedrals Measure 2021, and a communicant member of the Church of England or another trinitarian church. Successful candidates go through a DBS check, provide references and complete safeguarding training.

Members serve three-year terms and can be reappointed, but after three terms in a row they have to take a three-year break before applying again.

How to apply

The recruitment runs as a formal process of application and interview, with interviews taking place in the week of 19 October, followed by approval from the Bishop. New members are due to start at the end of the year.

Full details are set out in the Chapter recruitment brochure and the role description, and anyone who wants to put themselves forward can do so using the application form.

As the cathedral puts it, this is a chance to help guide “this important and rewarding journey” for one of Cornwall’s landmark buildings.