Verger: Manchester Cathedral

The Verger is responsible for the liturgical preparation and setup of services and assists the clergy team during morning and evening prayer, communion services and Evensong.

The Vergers’ Department enables the worshipping life of Manchester Cathedral to run smoothly and the building to be a place of welcome for visitors and users throughout the week, ensuring safety for all who enter the Church. The Verger is responsible for the liturgical preparation and setup of services and assists the clergy team during morning and evening prayer, communion services and Evensong.

The Cathedral is open from 8.30am to 6.30pm – and often until later in the evening when an Event is taking place – for 365 days of the year and a Verger is on duty at all times during open hours, working on a rota basis. The Vergers also work with the Events staff to cover times when the Cathedral is open outside core hours for events etc. The Vergers report to the Head Verger, who is responsible for the preparation of the duty rota to ensure full cover for the Cathedral during open hours. Vergers are required to work weekends and Bank Holidays as part of the rota. There will also be the requirement to work evenings to provide cover at meetings, concerts, dinners and other such events (also on a rota basis, with the Events staff).

The successful candidate will be able to demonstrate exemplary team working skills and have the capacity to work flexibly and effectively using their own initiative and be unafraid of working alone. They will be expected to demonstrate strong organisational and interpersonal skills to interact with a wide range of people and have well developed personal management skills to support a broad range of activities across the Cathedral; they will be creative, energetic, open and collaborative.

Due to the nature of the work involved in this role, the successful candidate will need to be physically fit, comfortable working at height and be committed to the traditions of prayer and worship that underpin cathedral life.

For the full job description and details of how to apply, please click here

The application form can be downloaded here

The deadline for applications is Noon on Monday 20 April 2026.

Shortlisted candidates will be contacted by Wednesday 22 April 2026.

The process will be in two parts; part one will be a panel interview which will take place at the Cathedral on Friday 1 May 2026. Candidates successful after the first part will then be invited back for part two on a mutually convenient date, to spend a day with the Vergers’ team and experience the role ‘hands-on’.

 To arrange an informal discussion about the role, please contact the Head Verger, Gareth Screeton: gareth.screeton@manchestercathedral.org