Terrence Lester is set to become the 16th Dean of Cape Town and Rector of St George's Cathedral, Cape Town, with his Service of Installation taking place tomorrow.
Archbishop Thabo Makgoba will officiate and preach at the service, marking the beginning of a significant chapter in both the life of the cathedral and the Anglican Church in Cape Town.
Lester’s spiritual journey is as rich and diverse as his heritage.
Raised in a family with a blend of Christian and Islamic influences, his younger days exposed him to a variety of cultural and religious traditions.
His grandmother, who had married into the Islamic faith when she moved to District Six, played a pivotal role in his upbringing.
She maintained a fruit and vegetable stall at the Fresh Produce Market, where she met Sebastian Lester, who would later become her husband.
Lester’s story reflects an openness to different faiths, with his own journey spanning both low and high Church Anglicanism.
This spiritual path was further shaped by his training in the UK at St John’s College in Nottingham, where he was introduced to evangelical and charismatic forms of worship.
This diverse background forms the foundation of his ministry, one that seeks to bring together different forms of Anglican worship and foster greater understanding among people of various faiths.
He also acknowledges the amount of support he receives from his wife, Nicolette also known as Nikki.
“My wife and I have been on this journey together," he said.
“She has been an incredible support to me, and her wisdom and insight guide much of what I do.”
In his free time, Lester enjoys a quieter pace at his house in McGregor, where he and his wife, Nikki, often escape to relax and recharge.
As the new Dean, Lester is committed to nurturing spiritual growth and discipleship in the cathedral’s large and varied congregation.
He reflected on the passion that had guided his journey thus far.
"For me Anglicanism holds together a very broad spectrum of these forms whose key elements of ritual and rhythm, of liturgy and worship.“
Lester also spoke to the spiritual growth of his diverse congregation.
"One of my favourite Epistles not attributed to St Paul but maybe a later disciple, is the one written to the Church at Ephesus.
“It is set in our lectionary at present for Morning Prayer. It speaks about what binds disparate groups together, what compels re-connection to each other and what the basis is on which they are remembered into the Body of Christ.
"The contrast is staggering – from ‘aliens and strangers,’ from ‘having no hope and without God’ to being made ‘one group in one new humanity’ and ‘with no dividing walls reconciled in one body by the cross’!
“This is a reality which our shared faith invites us into and which fires us up to live and be. But it needs fostering, nurturing, encouraging by all for the benefit of the world desperate for models of where such miracles are real. It was real at Ephesus notwithstanding the opposing forces they had to contend with!"
Lester also touched on Cape Town’s socio-economic disparities.
"Our situation of ‘significant socio-economic disparities’ is man-made. No one in this country has been spared.
“The effects and consequences of these disparities manifest at every level of human existence in our country and continent. However, they are not unique to us, as these are worldwide phenomena, for sadly, society has functioned with these in place and unchallenged for far too long.
"We don’t possess a gene that makes us more prone or less able to counter and combat these ills. Being man-made, they can be man-unmade! Jesus shows us how to bring our God-made and man-made game to the fore."
On building relationships with marginalized communities, he was firm.
“Christians must reflect on how to be both heaven-sent and person-centred in fulfilling God's mission.”
He recognizes that many young people feel disconnected from traditional church structures, and he is eager to find new ways to connect with them.
While he humorously suggests hosting a Tyla concert in the cathedral, his vision for reaching the youth is rooted in a broader strategy of integrating contemporary culture with timeless Christian values.
He understands that the Church must be willing to adapt to changing times while remaining true to its core message.
Lester’s approach to leadership is also one of collaboration.
He has spent over 40 years in ordained ministry and has always worked closely with others in shared prayer, reflection, and action.
"For me, leadership is not about acting alone but about taking people along on the journey," he explained.
"The task of demonstrating unity and togetherness is an imperative of our faith. Listening to each other is key."
Lester also spoke to Cape Town’s cultural and colonial history.
"We are only just beginning to learn about our often dark past and finding that not all of that past should be viewed through the prism of beautiful stained glass! The cracks of our past can be opportunities to let the light in, to quote one songwriter.
“That is very much how previous Deans have found ways for the community of faith to be credible witnesses to what it means to stand for truth, justice and peace and advance the values of God’s Kingdom."
His vision for the cathedral was clear: "Wherever I have served, including a previous stint at this very cathedral, my stance has been to welcome all!“
On the challenges he anticipated, he was candid. "We need to be open and honest, own our insecurities. Churches and churchy people are not immune to hurting or being hurt even in such beautiful places as this.
“People need to know and feel that they can trust those placed ‘over them in the Lord’ so that all can experience the cathedral as a place of healing and wholeness."
And what are the most important qualities a Dean should have? "All of our lives are intertwined and intersect at various levels and in many ways. We are told that humans share 96 percent genetic similarity! It is the 4 percent which marks ‘difference’ that keeps tripping us up over and over again! Celebrate similarity, is what I say!"
tracy-lynn.ruiters@inl.co.za