Jeffrey John to be Dean of St Albans

It is understood that 10 Downing Street intends making a formal announcement on Tuesday. The Queen approved the recommendation before Easter.

Dr John, Canon Theologian at Southwark Cathedral since 1997, was appointed Bishop of Reading last year but withdrew his candidature at the request of the Archbishop of Canterbury. Evangelicals had objected to the appoointment of a gay priest although Canon John is celibate.

However, there is said to be strong support for Jeffrey John in St Albans where some people have been lobbying for his apointment to the senior position. The previous Dean of St Albans, Christopher Lewis, moved to Christ Church Oxford last October.