Dianna Gwilliams

Dianna Lynn Gwilliams DL (born 26 May 1957) is an American-British retired Anglican priest. She served as Dean of Guildford, 2013 –2023.

Early life and education Gwilliams was born on 26 May 1957 in Colorado, United States. and was educated at Villa Park High School in Villa Park, California. She studied at the University of California, majoring in physics and chemistry, and graduating with two Bachelor of Arts (BA) degrees in 1978.

In 1978, she travelled to the United Kingdom to work as Sound Engineer on tour for a musical called The Witness. She was a sound engineer for 12 years. She later studied youth ministry and theological education at King's College London, graduating with a Master of Arts (MA) degree in 2001. From 1992 to 1997, she was a non-stipendiary minister and assistant curate at St Saviour's Church, Peckham, known locally as the Copleston Church, in the Diocese of Southwark. She then moved into full-time ministry and became an assistant curate at St Barnabas' Church, Dulwich. She was installed as dean at Guildford Cathedral on 15 September 2013. She was the first female Dean of Guildford and, in 2013, was one of the most senior female priests in the Church of England, alongside five other female deans.

Views She was chair of Inclusive Church from 2012 until 2022; an organisation that educates on full inclusion of every person in the church regardless of "disability, economic power, ethnicity, gender, gender identity, learning disability, mental health, neurodiversity, or sexuality".

Personal life She has three children (including a daughter who died in infancy), five grandchildren and her husband is a stonemason. She is a Deputy Lieutenant of Surrey.