Canon Michael Branch
Cathedral Dean
cathedraldean@rcaos.org.uk
Canon Michael Branch was formed for the priesthood at Campion House, Osterley, and St John’s Seminary, Wonersh. He was ordained priest on the 31st May 1997, serving as assistant priest at St Joseph’s, Roehampton and St Saviour’s, Lewisham. In 2006 he became Parish Priest of St Patrick’s, Plumstead. He then spent nine years as Parish Priest at St Peter’s, Woolwich, before taking on his present position as Dean of St George’s Cathedral. Canon Michael is delighted to have returned to the area where he originates. In fact, he was born at the top of Westminster Bridge Road and the Cathedral is where generations of his family have received the sacraments.
See the Dean's Welcome here.
Father Joe Owusu-Ansah
Sub Dean
josephowusuansah@rcaos.org.uk
Upon completion of his formation at St. John’s Seminary, Wonersh, Surrey, Father Joe was ordained a priest at St. George’s Cathedral, Southwark on 19th July, 2014. He last served at Parish Priest of Holy Family Parish in Thanet comprising the villages of Birchington and Westgate. He described himself then as the ‘Village Priest.’ He is now a City Priest! Prior to his ministry at Thanet, he was assistant priest at Holy Ghost, Balham, St. Thomas More, East Dulwich and St. Teresa’s Ashford. Father Joe is also the Archdiocesan Higher Education Chaplaincy Co-ordinator and will compliment this role with additional duties as Catholic Chaplain to Goldsmiths, University of London.
Father Joe has a passion for evangelisation and youth ministry. He holds a Master of Theological Science Degree from the Franciscan University of Steubenville, Ohio, USA. In his thesis he explored how Jesus accompanied the Twelve Apostles, with the text of the Journey to Emmaus (Luke 24) as the key.
Born and raised in Kumasi, Ghana, he spent considerable time with his family in England growing up, and so he decided to serve in the Archdiocese of Southwark. He enjoys watching and playing football, and, with a desire to experience different cultures, he loves travelling to different parts of the world.
Father Joseph Gulliford
Assistant Priest
josephgulliford@rcaos.org.uk
Fr Joseph was born in Greenwich and raised in South-East London. After completing his school education, he joined the Sion Community for Evangelism for a year – spreading the Gospel in schools around the country. Following this, he read Ancient History at Liverpool University, before staying on to serve the Catholic Chaplaincy for a further year.
After a period of work experience, including joining the committee for the Krakow World Youth Day, he joined St John’s Seminary, Wonersh, in Autumn 2016. He had an extended placement in St Edmund’s, Beckenham, in 2019-20, before returning to St John’s for a year before its closure in 2021. His Seminary formation concluded in Allen Hall Seminary, Chelsea, whilst he was serving as a Deacon in Sacred Heart Parish, Wimbledon. He was ordained a Priest in 2022 at the Cathedral and appointed to St Thomas More, East Dulwich. Fr Joseph is a keen musician, guitarist, singer, worship leader and composer of original contemporary praise and worship music.
Father Robert Sugg
Priest in Residence
Fr Sugg trained in the St John’s Seminary, Wonersh in 1985 until 1990. Following his ordination to the Diaconate on 7th July 1990, he worked as a Deacon in the Parish St Andrew’s in Thornton Heath. Fr Robert was then ordained as a priest on 9th June 1991 at St George’s Cathedral by Archbishop Michael Bowen.
Fr Robert has worked at many different parishes in Kent and Surrey and also spent four years at the Catholic Missionary Society as part of team travelling to various parishes throughout England and Wales. During this period he also travelled to Loyola University in Chicago to participate in training courses for the CMS. He then returned to work in UK parishes before finally returning to the place of his ordination, his home parish of St George’s Cathedral. Fr Sugg enjoys history, particularly Tudors and Stuarts, and reading and puzzles.
Rev Javier Elderfield
Cathedral Administrator and Deacon
cathedraladministrator@rcaos.org.uk
Deacon Javier is a married permanent deacon with a family of five children. He was ordained in 2009 and was appointed to St Saviour's parish, Lewisham Deanery, ministering there for twelve years. He worked full time as the Chaplaincy coordinator for Christ the King Sixth Forms, based at CTK Emmanuel, Lewisham for 21 years. Before then he worked as a secondary school music teacher. Deacon Javier now works as the Cathedral Administrator.
Cathedral Staff:
Deacon Javier Elderfield
Cathedral Administrator - cathedraladministrator@rcaos.org.uk
Paul Waite
Site & Facilities Manager - paulwaite@rcaos.org.uk
Jonathan Schranz
Diocesan Director of Music - cathedralmusic@rcaos.org.uk
Alex Flower
Cathedral Organist - cathedralorganist@rcaos.org.uk
Rachel Costello
Cathedral Secretary - cathedralsecretary@rcaos.org.uk
Visit our Music Department pages to see a full list of Music staff at the Cathedral.
The Archbishop
For information about the Archbishop of Southwark, The Most Reverend John Wilson, please visit the website of the Archdiocese of Southwark.