The Rev. Canon Jan Naylor Cope

The Rev. Canon Jan Naylor Cope was appointed provost of Washington National Cathedral in 2015. As provost, she oversees the Cathedral’s Development Department, Archives and works closely with the dean and the Cathedral’s leadership on its strategic vision, ministry and mission.  

Most recently, Canon Cope was a key architect of the Cathedral’s successful $185 million Cathedral for the Future comprehensive campaign. She is known for building and sustaining relationships, a warm pastoral touch and dynamic preaching.

Canon Cope was called as vicar of Washington National Cathedral in 2010 and the Cathedral Congregation grew by more than 500 members during her tenure. Formerly associate rector at St. David’s Church in Washington D.C., she also served as an elected lay leader at St. John’s Church, Lafayette Square. Prior to ordained ministry, she served as deputy director of presidential personnel in the White House and as president of the J. Naylor Cope Company.

Canon Cope graduated from Wesley Theological Seminary, and she holds a Doctor of Ministry degree from Virginia Theological Seminary. She represented the Diocese of Washington as a clergy deputy to the Episcopal Church General Convention three times, and she currently serves as First Vice President of the Compass Rose Society, an international outreach organization supporting the ministry of the Archbishop of Canterbury and the Anglican Communion. Canon Cope is also a former board member of the Protestant Episcopal Cathedral Foundation, Wesley Theological Seminary, Washington Theological Consortium, and the Mayor’s Interfaith Council.

She is an adjunct professor of preaching and adaptive leadership at Wesley Theological Seminary and a contributing meditation writer for The Pilgrim Way of Lent: Meditations from Washington National Cathedral, and Hear Us, Good Lord, both from Forward Movement publications. In addition, Canon Cope is the editor of Reconciliation, Healing, and Hope: Sermons from Washington National Cathedral, Morehouse Publishing.