Abbey announces new Dean

Canon Hall said today (Tuesday):

With its many, great resonances for Church and State, in the service of monarch and people, and as a place of pilgrimage and prayer, Westminster Abbey has a unique ministry. Becoming the next Dean of Westminster is an immense honour and challenge, which I look forward to with relish. I shall particularly enjoy being part of a community of welcome and of daily worship.

Canon Robert Wright, the Sub Dean, said:

We are delighted to hear of Canon John Hall's appointment as Dean of Westminster and we look forward enthusiastically to his Installation. Canon Hall is a very gifted priest who will help to shape the next stage of the Abbey's ministry.

David Burden, the Receiver General of the Abbey added:

I have met Canon Hall and I very much look forward to serving him as Dean.

Canon Hall, who is 57, studied at St Chad's College Durham and after two years as a teacher trained for the ministry at Cuddesdon College, Oxford. He served his title at Kennington St John the Divine at Southwark in London from 1975 to 1978 and was then priest-in-charge of Wimbledon All Saints from 1978 to 1984. He was Vicar of Streatham St Peter, London, from 1984 to 1992. From 1992 to 1998 he was Diocesan Director of Education in Blackburn and also Canon Residentiary of Blackburn Cathedral from 1994 to 1998.

He was appointed General Secretary of the National Society for promoting Religious Education in 1998 and was also General Secretary of the Church of England Board of Education until 2002 when he became the Church of England's Chief Education Officer. He has served as Honorary Curate of South Norwood, St Alban, Southwark.

Canon Hall has written widely on educational matters and was instrumental in the production of the Dearing Report and its follow-up which has led to significant expansion of Church secondary schools.

He is single and his interests include music and British political history.