All Hallows by the Tower May 5, 2026 12pm
For the third edition of Faith in the Public Square, the World Traders welcomed the Very Reverend Andrew Tremlett for a midday conversation with the Master at All Hallows on May 5, 2026.
Dean Tremlett has been the Dean of St Paul’s Cathedral since 2022. He previously served as the Dean of Durham Cathedral from 2016, and from 2010 to 2016 he was Rector of St Margaret’s Church at Westminster Abbey. It is worth noting that both centres of worship are UNESCO World Heritage Sites.
Master Burge started by asking him how he reconciled the two very different worlds of the profit-oriented, avaricious City with his spiritual beliefs and duties at St Paul’s. Dean Tremlett explained that his father was both a businessman (in the transportation business) and a spiritual man, and he never saw the divide between the secular and the sacred growing up, which formed his life view. In fact, he mentioned the social good that comes from the 20% of all UK taxes generated from the City, which in turn support the social and civic projects in society. Clearly a pragmatic Dean, Tremlett has consistently forged relations outside of the church with the world of business and politics, and believes secular challenges are good for the evolution of the Church.
Tremlett has a very international outlook, in part due to his father’s international shipping business. His longtime work as chaplain and Trustee to the Mission to Seafarers around the world further reinforced his world view and grasp of the global economy. He noted that most people around the world are religious, and it’s predominantly in the UK and Europe where we are seeing a secularisation of society. He added that most of those who attend service in St Paul’s are international tourists.
When asked if he always knew he wanted to be a Dean, he told a charming anecdote from when he was 15. The careers master at college asked young Andrew what profession he might like. He said, “I’m good with maths, I might like to be a banker. I also enjoy the Army Cadets, so maybe that’s an option. But what I really, really want is to be ordained!” Surprisingly, the careers master obtained an appointment with a local clergyman, who promptly sent him away, saying “Come back to see me when you need to start shaving.” He noted the irony of the secular school taking him seriously, and the church not at all.
Tremlett manages 220 full-time staff at St Paul’s with a budget of around £25m. Although he says they aren’t trained in business when training for ordination, it is a large part of his work, and beyond the administrative responsibilities, he takes it as his duty to provide for the wellbeing of his staff and their families, as well as the congregation.
The Reverend Nicol Kinrade, Vicar of All Hallows rounded out the event reflecting on how business and religion are inseparable (“The way we run our business is part of our religion”), and evoked St Homobonus, the patron saint of business people, in her closing prayer.
