Rogers Morgan Govender

The Very Reverend Rogers Morgan Govender is the current Dean of Manchester.

History

Originally from Durban in Natal, and ordained in 1985, he was Rector of St. Mathew's Hayfields in Pietermaritzburg and then of St. Thomas' Musgrave Road before emigrating in 2002 to the UK after 15 years of service in the Diocese of Natal. Rogers is a 6th generation South African man, and at the time of his appointment was England's first black Cathedral Dean, and the 3rd most senior black or Asian churchman in the Church of England.

Family

Rogers' Wife Celia is the administrator of the central Manchester City Learning Centre, and they have two children, Jonathan & Claire. Manchester (and subsequently Rogers) has a reputation in education, visiting schools and hosting events connecting contemporary culture with the Christian Faith.

News Items

In 2007, Rogers became embroiled in a legal conflict with Sony over the game "". The game features a shootout in Manchester Cathedral, and the Church of England claims Sony did not acquire the appropriate permissions to use the Cathedral's image. Rogers spoke out against the game publicly, calling it "highly irresponsible" due to the history of gun crime in the city.

Rogers also filled in for Tom Hanks in a [http://www.speroforum.com/site/article.asp?id=3828 Spoofed "Da Vinci Code" Movie Poster] in 2006, to promote a "Da Vinci Code Mass" at the Cathedral, intended to address the issues raised by the controversial book, and the movie based upon it. The mass was inspired by a [http://www.ekklesia.co.uk/content/news_syndication/article_060516davinci.shtml poll] revealing that the book and movie may have grossly undermined public trust in the Catholic church.

ee also

* Manchester Cathedral
* Durban
* Church of England
*

External links

* [http://www.manchestercathedralonline.co.uk The Official Manchester Cathedral Site]
* [http://www.anglican.co.za/Archives/2005-11-28.pdf 2005 Natal Anglican News, citing Rogers' appointment to Dean]
* [http://www.speroforum.com/site/article.asp?id=3828 Spero news, citing the "Da Vinci Code" poster spoof]