The two Archdeacons serve the church within the Diocese by taking particular responsibility for buildings (including church buildings), the welfare of clergy and their families, and the implementation of diocesan policy for the sake of the Gospel within an archdeaconry.
Archdeacon of Sheffield and Rotherham
Revd Canon David Gerrard was announced in July 2025 as the next Archdeacon of Sheffield & Rotherham.
David is currently the Area Dean of Wakefield and Vicar of St Catherine’s Church in the Parish of East Wakefield. Ordained in 2012, David trained for ministry at Trinity College, Bristol, following an earlier career in education. He has served in Wakefield since 2016 and was appointed Area Dean in 2019. In recognition of his leadership and service, he was made an Honorary Canon of Ripon Cathedral in 2023. Deeply committed to community engagement, David leads a range of outreach initiatives through the parishes’ community centres (St Catherine’s and St Swithun’s) and founded the Every Good Work youth and social action project. He is also the author of a Lent devotional book exploring stories from Genesis, ‘Creation to New Creation’. David is married to Carole, and they have two daughters. He loves walking, playing music (badly!), reading, all things Sci-Fi (especially Star Trek) and being with his family.
David will be installed as the new Archdeacon of Sheffield and Rotherham in a service at Sheffield Cathedral in the Autumn. His predecessor, the Rt Revd Malcolm Chamberlain moved on to be the Bishop of Wakefield in April 2025.
Archdeacon of Doncaster
On Saturday, 16 May, the Rt Revd Dr Pete Wilcox, Bishop of Sheffield, licensed the Revd Canon Javaid Iqbal as the Acting Archdeacon of Doncaster and licensed him as the Archdeacon of Doncaster on 23 September 2020.
Javaid was born and brought up in Pakistan. He is married to Mussarat and has four grown up children who have flown the nest. After training in Pakistan and England, he was ordained in the Church of Pakistan in 1997. Before becoming Archdeacon, Javaid served in five parishes, two in Pakistan and three in England, and set up a Diocesan department for mission and evangelism.
Javaid has served in three different dioceses in multifarious contexts. He went to St Thomas Theological College in Karachi in 1992. After having trained for two years there in 1994, he attended St. John’s College Nottingham, completing another three years of training. He served in the Diocese of Leicester for 13 years and was made an Honorary Canon of Leicester Cathedral. Form 2013 to 2020, Javaid served in the Diocesan of St Alban’s. He has been involved in various aspects of ministry as Chair of the Diocesan House of Clergy, vocation advisor, BAME vocation champion, reaching new people learning community, and interfaith and intercultural ministry to diverse communities. Javaid is passionate about evangelism, diversity, equality and wellbeing.
Associate Archdeacon Transition Enablers (AATEs)
The role of the Associate Archdeacon is to work with and support churches and church leaders in all the areas of church life which will help us realise our vision towards 2025.
Mission Area Support
Mission Area Support operates to help and serve people in the parishes in various aspects of church life.
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