Who’s Who (including stallholders)
Cathedral priests
We are delighted that three of our Cathedral priests are helping to lead us in different ways -
Canon Michael Branch, the Cathedral Dean, will be welcoming us in the morning and presiding at our Vigil Mass of Pentecost at the culmination of the day. Canon Michael feels especially at home at the Cathedral, since he was born nearby and generations of his family have received the sacraments at St George’s.
Fr Joe Owusu-Ansah, the Sub Dean, is preaching at the Vigil Mass. He recently moved to the Cathedral after serving as Parish Priest of Holy Family parish in Thanet. In addition to his role at St George’s, he is the Archdiocesan Higher Education Chaplaincy Coordinator and Catholic chaplain to Goldsmiths in the University of London.
Fr Joseph Gulliford (pictured here), Assistant Priest, was ordained a priest in 2022 and was an Assistant Priest at St Thomas More, East Dulwich, before moving to St George’s. An accomplished musician, worship leader and guitarist, he will be leading some of our Praise and Worship today.
Read more about Canon Michael,
Fr Joe, Fr Joseph Gulliford and the other Cathedral clergy and staff here .
Fr Emmanuel Mansford, CFR
Fr Emmanuel Mansford is originally from a small village in Bedfordshire.
He joined the Franciscan of the Renewal in the Bronx, NY in 1998 and made his solemn vows in 2003. Ordained a priest in 2007, he lived for several years in the friary in the East End of London where he served as the local superior.
In 2014 he became the vocation director for the friars and lived in New York City where he was involved in the friars apostolates of preaching the Gospel and serving the needy. He has a passion for preaching and people and loves to see God’s people encounter Him and come to life through the Gospel.
He also enjoys playing and watching football and is a boyhood fan of Luton Town FC. He is now back in the UK, serving with the friars in their mission in Bradford.
Fr Emmanuel is no stranger to St George’s Cathedral - he was here to lead the Holy Spirit day for the 2024 diocesan Life in the Spirit Seminars. We look forward to welcoming him back on Pentecost Saturday!
Musicians
Where would the Church be without music to touch our hearts and comfort, uplift and inspire us?
At Encounter Pentecost, to help us to (in the evocative words of Pope Francis addressing a meeting of choirs in 2019) “sense the beauty of Paradise”, our music will be led by some gifted musicians with a range of musical styles but a common purpose…
… that through our singing, “voice is … given to prayer and in this way a real international choir is formed, where in unison the praise and glory rises to the Father of all from his people” (Pope Francis again).
Our wonderful music leaders (in programme order):
Fr Joseph Gulliford, one of the priests here at the Cathedral and a songwriter whose prayerful leading of worship songs many of you will remember from the weekly films accompanying the Pilgrimage to Pentecost course
Chris and Anita Stribbling, experienced praise and worship leaders, long-standing supporters of the Southwark Catholic Charismatic team and frequent visitors to St George’s Cathedral to lead praise and worship at Days of Renewal and Healing
Nkem Stella Maduekwe, stalwart of the All Nations Catholic Charismatic Group and the Southwark Catholic Charismatic team with a unique and uplifting music ministry
Jonathan Schranz (pictured above), Director of Music for the Archdiocese of Southwark and St George’s Cathedral, where he oversees the Cathedral Music Department and its four cathedral choirs each week. He is also director of the Southwark Singing Programme, which facilitates whole-class singing in 21 schools across the Archdiocese every week - amongst many other things that you can read about here.
Alex Flower, the Cathedral Organist, where he accompanies the weekly services and works with the choirs. He can also be seen as a freelance recitalist, accompanist, teacher and continuo player around London.
ADF International - a Christian organisation contending for the truth in law, policy and the public square, focusing on the sanctity of life, religious freedom, freedom of speech, marriage & family and parental rights
Aid to the Church in Need UK - a Pontifical Foundation of the Catholic Church which helps Christians in need around the world being persecuted, oppressed or in pastoral need
Agency for Evangelisation and Catechesis - an agency of the Archdiocese of Southwark “helping missionary parishes to form missionary disciples” by supporting parishes and individuals in the areas of Evangelisation, Catechesis and Formation, including through ‘Some Definite Service’, the diocesan-wide approach to parish growth.
All Nations Catholic Charismatic Group - a network of Catholic Charismatic Renewal groups supporting individuals and parishes (including through monthly prayer vigils, Life in the Spirit Seminars and an annual weekend retreat) and running a Foodbank
CAFOD - the official overseas aid agency of the Catholic Church in England and Wales, part of Caritas Internationalis
Catholic Women's League - an organisation for all women in the parish, nurture members’ faith, supporting charitable projects and always being there to help one another
CELEBRATE - a Catholic ministry inspiring and equipping people of all ages to live an authentic Christian life in the power of the Holy Spirit, including through the provision of resources and conferences, such as CELEBRATE Festival 2026
Faithful Labours - a Catholic family-run business whose mission is to provide resources to keep the faith at the centre of family life, and reaching our homes with love and devotion
Good Neighbours to All - a parish-based scheme providing financial assistance to local people in need, especially struggling families who are experiencing financial hardship, debt and unemployment - seeking to put into practice what Pope Francis encouraged us to do in his encyclical Fratelli Tutti
Goodnews Books - a family mail order company serving renewal in the Church by distributing books and Christian music and also providing bookshops (such as the one pictured above) for Conferences, Retreats and Days of Renewal, including many over the years at St George’s Cathedral
Knights of St Columba - an order of Catholic laymen dedicated to the service of the Church in many different ways, including by helping young people develop in the likeness of Christ, through fundraising for pro-life charities, the hospices movement and national action projects - not to mention Stewarding at many events here at St George’s and Aylesford Priory
Mothers Prayers - a worldwide network of thousands of groups in over 100 countries bringing mothers together to pray for their children and grandchildren, surrendering them to the love of the Lord. The worldwide mother house of Mothers Prayers, Star House, is in Knockholt, Kent
Society of St Vincent de Paul (SVP) - a much-loved anti-poverty Catholic charity, part of an international Christian voluntary network with many parish groups in our Archdiocese and across the country joyfully extending a hand in the care and personal service of individuals and families who needs support
St George's Cathedral/Friends of St George's - our beloved Cathedral and the group of friends providing much-needed financial support for it
Southwark Spirituality Commission - a Commission of the Archdiocese of Southwark, called and supported by Archbishop John, which seeks to establish a network of those engaged in spiritual development, to provide a focus, ensure good communication, widen access to resources and strengthen spiritual development activity within the Archdiocese.
UCM (Union of Catholic Mothers) - a national organisation of Catholic women, open to all women who support our aims and objectives in prayer, love and active witness to marriage, family and Christian life in the world
Stallholders
The Holy Spirit is at work in all sorts of ways in the Church, inspiring people to undertake a panoply of works of mission and service.
We’re pleased to say that the following groups and apostolates operating in, or having connections to, our Archdiocese will have a Stall at Encounter Pentecost showcasing their gifts and the how they use them to proclaim the Gospel: