About Washington National Cathedral

Grounded in the reconciling love of Jesus Christ, Washington National Cathedral is a house of prayer for all people, conceived to serve as a great church for national purposes.

We can’t wait to welcome you to the 68th Annual North American Cathedral Deans Conference. Learn more about our mission and our Dean, Randy Hollerith, below.

Meet Dean Randy Hollerith

The Very Rev. Randolph “Randy” Marshall Hollerith was named the 11th Dean of Washington National Cathedral in 2016, and has worked to reorient the Cathedral to prioritize hospitality and welcome for all visitors and worshippers.

Dean Hollerith believes passionately that every person is worthy of dignity and respect that comes from being a beloved child of God. His mission at the Cathedral, reflected in his first sermon from the Canterbury Pulpit, is for the Cathedral to answer Isaiah’s call to be “repairers of the breach” in our common life, and in our individual walks with God.

During his tenure, Dean Hollerith spearheaded the creation of a five-year Strategic Plan that committed the Cathedral to four core priorities: Welcoming, Deepening, Convening and Serving. A $150 million comprehensive campaign, launched in mid-2019, aims to equip the Cathedral with the resources necessary to be fully engaged in mission in the world.

As part of the A Cathedral for the Future campaign, Dean Hollerith oversaw the complete restoration of the former College of Preachers as the new Virginia Mae Center, a premiere venue for the public programming work of the new Cathedral College of Faith & Culture. The campaign also plans to fully complete restoration work from the 2011 earthquake, renovate the Cathedral’s organ, expand the Cathedral endowment and invest in critical digital infrastructure.

Dean Hollerith oversaw a complete overhaul of the Cathedral’s video infrastructure, and during the COVID-19 pandemic that shuttered the Cathedral’s doors for nearly 18 months, he helped lead the emergence of a digital Cathedral. That transformation led to a doubling of the Cathedral’s donor base and more than 5 million people who accessed the Cathedral’s online offerings.

Under his leadership, the Cathedral’s finances have stabilized, resulting in growing budgets that have seen operating surpluses for five consecutive years.

Dean Hollerith was called to the Cathedral after serving as rector of St. James’s Episcopal Church in Richmond, Va., for 16 years. He holds degrees from Denison University and Yale Divinity School.

In 2018, Dean Hollerith was named one of 21 Washingtonians to watch in the Washington City Paper’s annual People Issue.

Dean Hollerith is married to the Rev. Melissa Hollerith and is the proud father of two adult children. The Holleriths live on the Cathedral Close.

Hollerith, who grew up in nearby Alexandria, Va., often visited the Cathedral as a boy during its construction and his family has longstanding ties to the institution. His great grandmother was present in 1907 when the foundation stone was laid by President Theodore Roosevelt, and also in 1932 for the first worship service in the fully completed Great Choir.

The Cathedral College of Faith & Culture

The Cathedral College of Faith & Culture, launched in 2022, is the gateway for public programs at Washington National Cathedral. We gather God’s people to cultivate spiritual growth, to nurture the next generation of faith leaders, and to rekindle a sense of grace and generosity in the nation’s civic life. 

Rooted in hospitality and powered by imagination, we partner with visionary leaders to deepen understanding and build community through public programs, online platforms and residential conferences and retreats.

The College convenes people from all walks of life to find connection and common ground. We’re committed to building bridges through education, conversation and compassion.

Learn more about the Cathedral College of Faith & Culture.