Chris Chivers

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The Reverend Canon

Chris Chivers
Principal of Westcott House, Cambridge
ChurchChurch of England
In office1 August 2015 – 20 September 2019
PredecessorMartin Seeley
SuccessorHelen Dawes
Other post(s)Area Dean of West Barnet (2014–2015)
Vicar of John Keble Church, Mill Hill (2010–2015)
Canon Chancellor of Blackburn Cathedral (2005–2010)
Orders
Ordination1997 (deacon)
by Richard Chartres
1998 (priest)
by Brian Masters
Personal details
Born
Christopher Mark Chivers

(1967-07-16) 16 July 1967 (age 56)
SpouseMary Chivers
ChildrenThree
EducationBristol Cathedral School
Alma materMagdalen College, Oxford

Christopher Mark "Chris" Chivers (born 16 July 1967) is an Anglican priest, composer, and author.[1][2][3] From 2015 until 2019, he was the Principal of Westcott House, Cambridge, an Anglican theological college in the Liberal Catholic tradition.

Early life[edit]

Chivers was born on 16 July 1967. He was educated at Bristol Cathedral School, an all-boys private school in Bristol which provides a choir to Bristol Cathedral. He then studied at Magdalen College, Oxford.

Following graduation, Chivers held musical teaching posts at New College School, Oxford, Cheltenham Ladies' College and King's College School, Cambridge.

Career[edit]

Ordained ministry[edit]

After studying at Westcott House, Cambridge, Chivers was ordained a deacon on 28 June 1997 at St Paul's Cathedral by Richard Chartres, Bishop of London[4] and a priest on 28 June 1998 at St Pancras New Church by Brian Masters, area Bishop of Edmonton.[5] He served his curacy in the Parish of Friern Barnet.[6] During his time there he was named one of the top ten preachers of the year in The Times 1999 Preacher of the Year competition.[7]

In 1999 he went to Cape Town as Canon Precentor of St. George's Cathedral, Cape Town.[8] While there he witnessed the work of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission and spoke to the worshippers at Friday Prayers in a local mosque.

In November 2001 he was appointed Precentor of Westminster Abbey in London and Chaplain of Westminster Abbey Choir School. He participated in the funeral of Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother. In 2005 he became Canon Chancellor of Blackburn Cathedral.[9][10] While there, he was one of the first to teach the Awareness Course.

In 2010 he became Vicar of John Keble Church, Mill Hill,[11] in the Diocese of London and in 2012 a priest vicar of Westminster Abbey.

On 1 August 2015 Chivers became Principal of Westcott House, Cambridge.[12] On Tuesday 31 January 2017, ordinands at Westcott held a service using excerpts from the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence's Bible in Polari, an event he described as "hugely regrettable".[13]

His resignation with immediate effect for undisclosed reasons was announced on 20 September 2019.[14]

As author[edit]

Chivers has written about his experiences in South Africa[15] and made contributions to other collections. As a journalist he has written for the Cape Times,[16] The Times, The Independent,[17] The Guardian,[18] Church Times,[19] Church of England Newspaper and The Tablet.[20]

Musical work[edit]

His choral works have been sung at (amongst others) King's College, Cambridge, Westminster Abbey and Gloucester Cathedral; and include: Our Blessed Lady's Lullaby (1988), Ecce Puer (1994), Mayenziwe Magnificat (2000) and Diptych (2006).

Broadcasting[edit]

Chivers has presented The Daily Service for BBC Radio 4,[21] interviewed Desmond Tutu and was part of the team broadcasting the Inauguration of President Barack Obama in Washington DC.[22]

Other[edit]

Personal life[edit]

In 1998, Chivers married Mary Rumble (née Philpott).[27] Together they have three sons: Dominic, Gregory and Jonathan.[28]

Styles[edit]

  • The Reverend Chris Chivers (1997–1999)
  • The Reverend Canon Chris Chivers (1999–present)

References[edit]

  1. ^ St Paul's University, Kenya Archived 16 March 2015 at the Wayback Machine
  2. ^ The Guardian
  3. ^ Presto
  4. ^ "Gazette: Ordinations". Church Times. No. 7013. 11 July 1997. p. 6. ISSN 0009-658X. Retrieved 19 January 2016 – via UK Press Online archives.
  5. ^ "Gazette: Ordinations". Church Times. No. 7065. 10 July 1998. p. 17. ISSN 0009-658X. Retrieved 19 January 2016 – via UK Press Online archives.
  6. ^ "parishoffriernbarnet.co.uk". parishoffriernbarnet.co.uk. Retrieved 21 October 2011.
  7. ^ Gledhill, Ruth (January 2000). Fifth Times Book of Best Sermons. ISBN 9780304706563.
  8. ^ Linda Louw. "St George's Cathedral, Cape Town". Stgeorgescathedral.com. Retrieved 21 October 2011.
  9. ^ "Welcome to Blackburn Cathedral". Blackburncathedral.com. 5 September 2011. Retrieved 21 October 2011.
  10. ^ "Number10.gov.uk » Canon Chancellor of the Cathedral Church of Blackburn Saint Mary the Virgin". www.number10.gov.uk. Archived from the original on 9 September 2008. Retrieved 14 January 2022.
  11. ^ "John Keble Front Page". Johnkeble.org.uk. Retrieved 21 October 2011.
  12. ^ "New Principal". News. Westcott House. Archived from the original on 6 July 2015. Retrieved 9 August 2015.
  13. ^ The Daily Telegraph "A queer take on liturgy at Cambridge theological college": p10, issue no 50,296 dated Saturday 4 February 2017
  14. ^ "A message from the Chair of Westcott House Council, the Right Reverend Paul Ferguson". www.westcott.cam.ac.uk. Archived from the original on 20 September 2019.
  15. ^ "AGW". Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 13 April 2015.
  16. ^ Independent Newspapers Online. "IOL.co.za". Cape Times. Retrieved 21 October 2011.
  17. ^ "Canon David Isitt: Pioneering priest in the fields of counselling, ecumenism and theological education – Obituaries, News". The Independent. UK. 14 September 2009. Retrieved 21 October 2011.
  18. ^ Chivers, Chris (14 September 2007). "Chris Chivers: Thinking about the meaning of Ramadan has made me a better Christian". The Guardian. Retrieved 24 April 2012.
  19. ^ "Mandela's priest". Church Times. No. 7539. 7 September 2007. p. 17. ISSN 0009-658X. Retrieved 7 June 2014.
  20. ^ "International Catholic weekly newspaper". The Tablet. 19 July 2008. Archived from the original on 14 July 2014. Retrieved 21 October 2011.
  21. ^ "Religion and Ethics – Daily Service". BBC. 28 August 2007. Archived from the original on 2 August 2011. Retrieved 21 October 2011.
  22. ^ Cruces, Emma (18 December 2008). "Blackburn Cathedral canon's Barack Obama mission". Lancashire Telegraph. Retrieved 24 April 2012.
  23. ^ "'Heroes' honoured at Fusion Awards". Lancashire Telegraph. 26 May 2008. Retrieved 24 April 2012.
  24. ^ "Top stories | From". The Guardian. UK. 29 May 2008. Retrieved 21 October 2011.
  25. ^ "The Melanesian Brotherhood". Orders.anglican.org. Retrieved 21 October 2011.
  26. ^ Christianity today
  27. ^ "CHIVERS, Rev. Canon Christopher Mark". Who's Who 2017. Oxford University Press. November 2016. Retrieved 3 December 2016.
  28. ^ "New Vicar for JK" (PDF). Clarion Recall (29): 4–7. June 2010. Retrieved 3 December 2016.
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