The Very Rev Dr Jeff Cuttell

The Very Rev Dr Jeff Cuttell

Along with the Bishops and Archdeacons the Dean holds one of the senior offices in the Diocese. He leads the ministry of Derby Cathedral and works alongside the public, private and voluntary sectors to enhance the well being of communities across Derby and Derbyshire.

Jeff arrived in Derby in September 2008 from the parishes of Astbury and Smallwood in the Diocese of Chester, where he had been since 1999. He was also the Rural Dean of Congleton, since 2004, overseeing the ministry of 20 parishes.

Jeff comes from a strong background in the Sciences. After graduating with a first in Geological Sciences from the University of Birmingham he went on to work for the Atomic Energy Authority pursuing his PhD research with the Nuclear Physics Division of Harwell AERE in Oxfordshire. He trained for the ministry at Trinity Theological College in Bristol and was ordained in 1987. He served, first as Curate and then as Vicar, in the parish of Normanton in the Diocese of Wakefield. During this time he also studied modern philosophy at Sheffield University and was awarded an MA in 1991.

He left West Yorkshire to move into broadcasting religious programmes. He worked for the BBC in a number of capacities between 1995 and 1999. He worked in local radio as a Producer and Presenter for BBC Radio Stoke, as a TV Presenter for BBC 1 Television and as a regular contributor to BBC Radio 2 and 4 before returning to parish ministry in 1999.

An additional role has been holding a commission as a Chaplain to the Forces. Between 1997 and 2006 he served with the 4th Battalion the Parachute Regiment (Reserve). He saw active service on operations in the Balkans and he holds military parachutist qualifications with the French, German and British Armies.

His educational and military experience came together in 2001 when he lectured at Cardiff University on War & Ethics until 2006. He was also a Tutor at St Michael’s College, Llandaff, during the same period.

Jeff is certainly no stranger to Derbyshire and has close family links with the county. His father and grandfather were both Derbyshire miners and some of his earliest memories are from living at Chaddesden, just a couple of miles from the Cathedral. He attended school there very briefly before the family moved to Ravenshead in Nottinghamshire.

For more information see the Derby Cathedral website.