THE Dean of York, The Very Reverend Raymond Furnell, is to retire.

The Dean announced he would leave his post at York Minster, in August 2003, at the end of Sunday's morning service.

His decision, made on the eighth anniversary of his accession to the Deanery, had been agreed with the Archbishop of York, Dr David Hope, more than a year ago.

But the Dean, who entered the Minster in September 1994, said the time was now right to release the date of his retirement.

He said he would retire on the day after his 68th birthday and added that he would be moving to Bury St Edmunds. The Dean said: "In August last year, I met with the Archbishop to discuss the date of my retirement. We agreed that the summer of 2003 would be appropriate from his point of view and from mine.

"I feel it is now time to release the dates...therefore I would formally cease to be Dean on August 31, 2003. My last Sunday in the Minster will be May 25.

"It is then our intention to go to Bury St Edmunds. I have chosen May 25 as the day after my 68th birthday, so I am not actually going early!"

After several years in the oil and chemical industry, the Dean trained at Lincoln Theological College, was ordained in Lincoln Cathedral and was later appointed Vicar of St James the Great, in Clayton, West Sussex.

In 1975 he moved to Hanley, Stoke-on-Trent, to be team rector of the Hanley team ministry and Rural Dean of Stoke North.

After becoming Provost of St Edmundsbury Cathedral, in Suffolk, in 1981 and accepted an invitation to become Dean of York in 1994.

Dean Furnell is a member of the General Synod of the Church of England and Chair of the Council for the Care of Churches.

He has served as Secretary of the Deans and Provosts Conference and Secretary of the Association of English Cathedrals.

Paying tribute to the Dean, the Archbishop of York, Dr David Hope, said: "Raymond Furnell has served the Church with great faith, energy and commitment over several decades.

"He is a well-respected Dean throughout the Church and has built up a wealth of experience.

"In the province and City of York his wider work and interests have been much appreciated. I wish Raymond and Sherril every happiness in their retirement."

Updated: 10:56 Monday, September 30, 2002