Benn Swinfield - stonemason

On 28^th January 2026, Canterbury Cathedral recorded yet another extraordinary event in its almost one thousand years of history. The current building’s story can be traced back to its rebuilding in 1070. Sarah Mullally has now become the 106^th Archbishop of Canterbury at her Confirmation ceremony at St Paul’s Cathedral in London. She is the first woman to be elected to the position of the highest-ranking cleric of the Church of England since Augustine founded the first Canterbury Cathedral when he arrived in Kent in 597.

The task of recording the momentous occasion on the walls of the cathedral fell to its current Senior Stonemason, Benn Swinfield, when he added her name to the list of previous incumbents. He had recorded the name of her predecessor, Justin Welby, who became archbishop in 2013.

Benjamin Alan Swinfield was born in Canterbury Hospital on 14^th October 1985 as the second of the three sons who were born to Geoff Swinfield and Catherine (Kate) Peckham who then lived in Faversham. He went to St Anselm’s Catholic School in the same city before starting a stone masonry course at Lambeth College in 2003 in Level 2-3 Banker Masonry. 

Previously having unsuccessfully applied for an apprenticeship at Canterbury Cathedral, he was offered that opportunity and joined its stone masonry department in January 2006. From 2009 to 2011, he attended the City and Guilds Art School obtaining a Post Graduate Diploma in Architectural Stone Carving.  

He has now been there for the last twenty years working his way up to become on one of its two Senior Stonemasons. Benn now trains new apprentices in the ancient craft. He is called upon to appear on television whenever the media films the beautiful cathedral where Archbishop Thomas Becket was martyred in 1170. 

Around the Cathedral, numerous examples of his workmanship can be seen among those of all the former masons who have decorated and kept the building standing for nearly a millennium. Each bears his unique mason’s mark to identify its carver. It is amazing and very rewarding to remember that they will be there for centuries to come. He so enjoys showing the results of their skills to those who are privileged to be given the unique guided tour.

Benn now lives in Herne Bay with Vashti Faux-Bowyer and their two children, Lexia and Vinnie. 

His work at the Cathedral is never ending!