Rector of St. Martin’s Cathedral, Diocese of Newfoundland

Overview

The Right Reverend John Watton, Diocesan Bishop, is inviting applications for the position of Rector of St. Martin’s Cathedral in Gander. This is a full-time stipendiary position. Housing is provided.

The Cathedral Parish of St. Martin’s Gander

The Cathedral Parish of Gander is a single point parish with service to the nearby community of Benton, and Holy Cross Chapel.

St. Martin’s Cathedral has undergone many renovations over past years, and is a bright open concept building, that has great potential for community events and large services. They have recently upgraded the oil fired system to a heat pump one, and other work is in planning stages to ensure the Cathedral’s economic sustainability.

The first generation of Anglican people in Gander are people who resettled there during the 1950’s and 60’s. During the time of the Second World War and advancing air traffic, Gander became a central and key location of communication, service industries, and Aviation services. The people who moved to Gander built the Church building and community with a devotion to the faith community that still instills a sense of identity and connection to the past.

It is a Eucharistic community that highly values Pastoral Care, visitation, vibrant worship and good communication.

St. Martin’s is a community that has been, and continues to be committed to fresh visioning processes. We are engaging the common challenges of all communities of faith in relation to culture, finances, demographics and shifting theological landscapes. We are students of sustainable and intentionally missional ministry. We take seriously our mandate to make disciples in our time. It is a vibrant and caring community, with strong lay leadership.

This leadership is now expressing a need for teaching guidance and clarity. Ministry demands are increasing as you will see below.

Gander has become a community that contains a large number of private homes for seniors, and government run long term care facilities. As a Cathedral, these centers are a focus of ministry, and we are visioning around to provide effective pastoral care and chaplaincy in this context. We are looking for a leader who has a desire for visioning, making disciples, building partnerships;

who will visit, provide a pastoral presence to the entire community, make connections with younger families, and lead them through processes of preparing for the future. Leadership and communication skills are essential.

We understand that one person is not able to do all of this; but look for a rector who is able to create pathways for ministry and innovative partnerships. We will ask the new rector to engage a process that will facilitate parish discernment around possibilities of rehiring an associate priest, and what the Cathedral’s ministry must look like in our time.

They are optimistic about the future, realistic about the challenges facing all churches today, and anxious to welcome a leader into the community.

The closing date for applications is Friday April 10, 2026. Starting date is negotiable. Please email or call the bishop for more information, and to request a Parish Profile.