New position for cathedral dean

Dean Atwell started the project to restore the tower

A Suffolk churchman has been appointed Dean of Winchester Cathedral, it was announced on Monday.

The Very Reverend James Atwell, Dean of St Edmundsbury Cathedral, in Bury St Edmunds, since 1995, will take up his new post in March 2006.

Dean Atwell said: "I am sorry to be leaving Suffolk after 11 extraordinary years. It will be a terrible wrench as roots here have grown deep."

But he said he looked forward to the challenges of his new position.

"It will be quite a transition as I look forward to embracing a new challenge as part of a team enabling the long tradition of faith and service, focused on Winchester Cathedral, to continue to be a vibrant force in our generation," he said.

Dean Atwell instigated the £12.5m Millennium Tower project, which completed the Cathedral building.

HRH The Prince of Wales and HRH The Duchess of Cornwall attended the Service of Celebration and Thanksgiving to mark the completion of the Cathedral Tower in July.