Gloucester Cathedral has appointed an experienced finance, property and HR manager as its new chief operating officer and chapter steward.
Barry McMaster takes on the most senior non-ordained position at the cathedral this spring 2025, supporting the Dean of Gloucester with the management of all operational aspects of cathedral life.
He joins at an 'exciting' time for the cathedral, with two key projects to protect and conserve its infrastructure currently underway.
Having served as an officer in the British Army for nearly two decades, Barry has spent the last 15 years working as a bursar in the education sector, most recently Erskine Stewart's Melville Schools in Edinburgh, where he was 'instrumental' in modernising financial operations and building relationships with key partners.
His responsibilities at Gloucester Cathedral will include staffing, property and finance, as well as helping in the delivery of the cathedral’s mission and strategy, 'to be in tune with heaven and in touch with daily life'.
The appointment comes with the cathedral's ambitious 'In Tune' campaign — which aims to raise £3 million to refurbish its historic organ and widen access to its 'world class' music education offering — having already surpassed the halfway mark; and a project to conserve its iconic medieval cloisters about to enter its next phase, with a £40,000 grant received this April 2025.
Dean of Gloucester, the Very Reverend Andrew Zihni, commented: 'I am delighted that the cathedral chapter has appointed Barry McMaster as the new chief operating officer and chapter steward of Gloucester Cathedral.
'Barry brings with him considerable experience in finance, property and HR — among many other things — and will no doubt be an excellent fit to the cathedral community.
'We look forward to welcoming him, his wife and three children to Gloucester later this spring.'
Barry said: 'I am thrilled to be appointed as the COO of the magnificent Gloucester Cathedral and to serve both the cathedral and the local community.
'I look forward to working with the brilliant team and supporting the amazing work already in progress and being planned.'
