IS THERE any other cathedral that has both a brother and a sister among its honorary canons? They have at St Albans, and, what is more, both were installed on the same day. Canon Michael Roden is Team Rector of Hitchin, and his sister, Canon Jo Loveridge, is Team Rector of Hertford and also the first woman priest to chair the House of Clergy in the diocesan synod.

Canon Loveridge, who is married to the Revd Douglas Loveridge, a hospital chaplain, said that she not only felt greatly honoured to be made an honorary canon: to be installed along with her brother "makes this pretty amazing".

They were both delighted that their installation took place on the 20th anniversary of the first ordinations of women. Canon Roden said that "it is a very happy coincidence that Jo and I are both nearby team rectors, and we often get together for lunch."

Tongue in cheek, he went on to say: "Jo's prospects were not always promising. When we were little, Jo and I used to sing in the church choir together, run by my father, and during evensong Jo would pull faces at me across the chancel. Now that we are canons, and once again sitting opposite each other, I am hoping my older sister will be setting a much better example."