Father Geoffrey Tisdall was installed by Anglican Bishop Michael Hough at the cathedral on Tuesday night.

Fr Geoffrey replaces Jeffrey Gunn, who moved to England last year, and comes to Ballarat after more than 30 years in the priesthood.

As dean, Fr Geoffrey is one of the diocese's most senior clergy and will head Ballarat's Anglican Cathedral - Christ Church - in Lydiard St Sth.

The former personal assistant to the Archbishop of Melbourne Dr Keith Rayner, he has ministered in Geelong, England and Melbourne, including eight years as parish priest of St John's Anglican Church in East Malvern.

Fr Geoffrey said the Ballarat cathedral was a beautiful and "much prayed in space" and hopes to encourage more people to "find sanctuary there".

"To have a church which is at the heart of the city and close to where a lot of people are passing by does have a lot of opportunity of attracting people to come in and find their way as they're right to do," he said.

"As distinct from a parish church, a cathedral ministers to an entire city to nurture its soul, so in that sense it is critical to the entire community."

Fr Geoffrey will conduct his first service as dean on Sunday at 8am.