THE Dean of Leicester, the Very Revd Vivienne Faull, will be the next Dean of York, Number 10 announced on Thursday.
Dean Faull, who is 57, succeeds the Very Revd Keith Jones, who resigned on 30 April.
The Archbishop of York, Dr Sentamu, said that Dean Faull's "rich experience, and her deep trust in God and love for all people" would York Minster "as it seeks to serve the mission of God in the diocese and Province of York".
Dean Faull was appointed Dean of Leicester in 2000, the first woman to be put in charge of an English cathedral. Before that, she was chaplain to Gloucester Cathedral (1990-94); and Vice-Provost of Coventry Cathedral (1994 -2000).
In 2009, Dean Faull was elected to chair the Association of English Cathedrals, the cathedrals' representative body; and she is serving her second term on the English Anglican-Roman Catholic committee for ecumenical conversations.
The Bishop of Leicester, the Rt Revd Tim Stevens, said this week: "I am glad her vision and leadership qualities will continue to be used in cathedral ministry, and I am sure those she serves in York will value her as much as we have."
Dean Faull said: "I am honoured and delighted to have been nominated by HM The Queen to be the next Dean of York, and excited about moving back north. It is, of course, daunting to move from one of the smallest to one of the largest cathedrals; but I know that there are many people who care deeply for York Minster, its mission and ministry, and I look forward to leading a large team on its continued development."