Rogers Govender

Govender was born on 29 June 1960 in Durban, Province of Natal, South Africa.{{Who's Who|id=U59344|title=Govender, Rogers Morgan}} He is a sixth generation South African of South Indian ancestry.{{cite web|title=Black history in the making|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/manchester/content/articles/2005/10/19/black_dean_191005_feature.shtml|website=BBC Manchester|accessdate=14 July 2015|date=21 October 2005}} In 1983, he entered St Paul's College, Grahamstown, an Anglican theological college, to train for ministry in the Church of the Province of Southern Africa.{{Crockford| surname = Govender | forenames = Rogers Morgan | id = 22767 | accessed = 22 June 2018}}

Govender was ordained deacon in 1985 and priest in 1986. He was priest in charge at St Mary's Church, Greyville, Durban from 1988 until 1993 when he was transferred to St Matthew's Hayfields, Pietermaritzburg where he was rector and subsequently St Thomas's Musgrave Road. He graduated from the University of Natal with a Bachelor of Theology (BTh) degree in 1997. He emigrated to the United Kingdom in 2002 after 15 years of service in the Diocese of Natal.

On arrival in England, he was priest-in-charge of Christ Church, West Didsbury in South Manchester and Area Dean of Withington. In 2006 he was appointed Dean of Manchester. The Dean is based in Manchester, England and is the head of the Chapter of Manchester Cathedral. At the time of his appointment was England's first black cathedral dean, and the third most senior black or Asian churchman in the Church of England. His aim is to accommodate people of all races in the inner city.

Govender filled in for Tom Hanks in a spoofed Da Vinci Code movie poster in 2006,{{Cite web |url= http://www.speroforum.com/site/article.asp?id=3828 |title=Cathedral stages Da Vinci spoof |work=speroforum.com |accessdate=8 November 2010 |date= May 31, 2006 |author=Ekklesia}} to promote a "Da Vinci Code Mass" at the cathedral intended to address issues raised by the controversial book, and the movie based on it. The mass was inspired by a poll revealing that the book and movie may have undermined public trust in the Catholic Church.{{Cite web |url= http://www.ekklesia.co.uk/content/news_syndication/article_060516davinci.shtml |title=Poll suggests Da Vinci code undermines trust in Catholic church |work=ekklesia.co.uk |accessdate=8 November 2010 |author=staff writers |date=16 May 2006}}

Govender is married to Celia. They have two children, Jonathan and Claire.

In 2018 Govender was awarded an MBE for his services to interfaith relations and to the community in Manchester.{{Cite web |title=New Year's Honours list: The people from Greater Manchester recognised this year |last=Abbit |first=Beth |work=Manchester Evening News |date=28 December 2018 |access-date=29 December 2018 |url= https://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/greater-manchester-news/queens-honours-list-who-2019-15606524 |language= |quote=}}

• Controversy over the use of Manchester Cathedral in Resistance: Fall of Man

{{reflist}}

• [http://www.manchestercathedral.org Manchester Cathedral website]
• [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]

{{Deans of Manchester}}

{{Office holders in the Diocese of Manchester}}

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{{DEFAULTSORT:Govender, Rogers Morgan}}

Category:1960 births

Category:Living people

Category:Deans of Manchester

Category:20th-century South African Anglican priests

Category:South African people of Indian descent

Category:University of Natal alumni

Category:Members of the Order of the British Empire

Category:21st-century English Anglican priests

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