World Traders’ Chaplain, Rev’d Bertrand Olivier, Vicar of All Hallows by the Tower since 2005, is to be the next Rector of Christ Church Cathedral and Dean of Montreal (Québec, Canada). He is to take his position there in February 2018.

‘It is a huge honour and privilege for me to have been invited to serve the bilingual Anglican Cathedral Community in Montreal, and I relish the prospect of being able to integrate both anglophone and francophone sides of my personality in order to share the Gospel in this new context for me. I look forward to working with the Bishop of Montreal, the Rt Rev’d Mary Irwin-Gibson and the whole diocese in this exciting next step of my journey.’

Inevitably, this announcement will bring change at All Hallows. ‘We have achieved much at All Hallows in recent years’, says Bertrand, ‘and I am tremendously grateful to our Churchwardens, PCC, staff and volunteer team, and all those who have given their time and energy to continue God’s mission on Tower Hill and expand it beyond into cyberspace.’

Churchwardens Ken Marshall and Di Robertshaw said: ‘We are very sorry that Bertrand is leaving, and his move will leave a void in the life of All Hallows. Bertrand has contributed greatly to the continuing legacy of development at All Hallows by the Tower since AD 675 and we thank him.’

‘Bertrand has been called by God to this opportunity to further the Gospel in a role that combines all the experience and skills gained through his ministry in the City of London. Montreal will offer many challenges in a truly bilingual and global Anglican community and we commend him greatly to his new Diocese and community.’

Bertrand’s last Sunday at All Hallows will be on the Feast of Candlemas (transferred), on 4 February 2018.