The Very Reverend Katie Lawrence is the first woman to serve as Dean of Wellington Cathedral of St Paul in New Zealand.
Originally from Cyprus, part of a Royal Air Force family, she went on to spend over 20 years as a professional dancer performing, teaching and choreographing around the world, before feeling called to ministry, something that she thought was never on the cards for her prior to feeling her calling.
After studying theology at Durham University, she was ordained in 2016 and joined the Wellington Cathedral in 2019 before becoming the cathedrals ninth Dean in 2023 and the first woman to take up the role.Katie believes the cathedral is a place for everyone in the community, and in her role has led services for major public events and national moments of mourning, including state services, memorials such as the Loafers Lodge fire, and engagement with national protests outside Parliament.
Photo: RNZ / REECE BAKER
