The Very Revd Ken Riley OBE MA – RIP

With great sadness, we share the news of the passing of The Very Revd Kenneth Joseph Riley, who was Dean of Manchester Cathedral between 1993 and 2005.

Ken’s ministry spanned several decades, being ordained in 1965 at Liverpool Cathedral and beginning his ministry at Emmanuel Church in Fazakerley, where he met Margaret, his wife of 57 years. He then became Chaplain of Brasted Place College, Sevenoaks, before becoming Anglican Chaplain at Liverpool University.  In 1975, he combined his role as Chaplain of the University with being Vicar of Mossley Hill, and also became Warden of Readers and Rural Dean. From 1987 until 1993, he was Canon Treasurer and then Canon Precentor at Liverpool Cathedral, before becoming Dean of Manchester.

During his time in Manchester, Ken was a pivotal link between the Cathedral and the City. He was officially recognised as Chaplain of the Greater Manchester Lieutenancy, and in 2003, he was awarded the OBE for services to the City of Manchester, recognising his contribution to the life of our city. Of particular note was his role in the task force behind the regeneration of the Cathedral, after the devastation wrought by an IRA bomb.

Ken stayed at the Cathedral until his retirement in 2005, the first half of which he spent in Scarisbrick, Merseyside, with lots of trips to Australia to see his daughter Kay and grandson Tom, as well as helping with parish interregnums. The second half was in Alnwick, Northumberland, nearer to his elder daughter Jane and where he died in Wansbeck Hospital, on a Sunday, 19 October 2025, surrounded by loved ones.

A Thanksgiving Service and celebration of Ken’s life will be held in The Lady Chapel at Liverpool’s Anglican Cathedral on 11 November 2025 at 11:30 am. All are welcome to join the family to celebrate his life, and afterwards come to the Western Rooms for a cuppa and one of Ken’s favourite homemade biscuits!

NB – As it is Remembrance Day, there is a formal 2-minute silence in the main body of the Cathedral at 11am. Do feel free to arrive well in advance of 11 am to attend this before arriving at the Lady Chapel after it concludes; alternatively, arrive after this in time for the Thanksgiving at 11:30 am.