Brian Victor Beck
Encyclopedia
The Revd Canon Brian Victor Beck, an Anglican priest in South Africa
, served as Dean of Kimberley
from 2003 to 2010. He is an Honorary Canon
of St Cyprian's Cathedral
.
, Cape Town
.
He subsequently received formal theological training at St Peter’s, Pietermaritzburg
and St Bede’s, graduating with a Diploma in Theology.
Beck was ordained a Deacon in 1985 and Priest in 1986.
Fr Beck served at the Church of the Annunciation, in Paarl
, where he was instituted as Rector in 1989.
the Martyr in Kimberley on 8 February 2003.
During his Deanship a number of significant projects enhancing the fabric of the cathedral were carried out, including the construction of a ramp for access for the aged and disabled and a Garden of Remembrance. The latter was dedicated on the occasion of the centenary of the laying of the foundation stone of the Cathedral, 5 March 2007. Beck was serving at the time as Vicar General
for the Diocese of Kimberley and Kuruman following the retirement of Bishop Itumeleng Moseki
.
The centenary celebration, culminating on 13 May 2008, was marked by a series of services and events, including the hosting of Episcopal Synod
and the Consecration and Enthronement of Bishop Oswald Swartz.
Having reviewed the earlier involvement of St Cyprian’s in formal education, one of the outcomes of the centenary was the rebirth of the St Cyprian’s Grammar School
. Dean Beck, as one of the founders, chaired its Board of Governors and gave guidance to the school from its opening in 2009. Beck House at the school was named in his honour.
of the Cathedral on 12 September 2010, during a service of Solemn Evensong
and Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament
.
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
, served as Dean of Kimberley
Kimberley, Northern Cape
Kimberley is a city in South Africa, and the capital of the Northern Cape. It is located near the confluence of the Vaal and Orange Rivers. The town has considerable historical significance due its diamond mining past and siege during the Second Boer War...
from 2003 to 2010. He is an Honorary Canon
Canon (priest)
A canon is a priest or minister who is a member of certain bodies of the Christian clergy subject to an ecclesiastical rule ....
of St Cyprian's Cathedral
St Cyprian's Cathedral, Kimberley
The Cathedral Church of St Cyprian the Martyr, Kimberley, is the seat of the Bishop of the Anglican Diocese of Kimberley and Kuruman, Anglican Church of Southern Africa. It became a Cathedral when the Synod of Bishops gave a mandate for the formation of the new Diocese of Kimberley and Kuruman in...
.
Education and appointments
Beck was licensed, prior to ordination, as a Sub-deacon at St Michael and All Angels, an Anglo-Catholic parish in ObservatoryObservatory, Cape Town
Observatory is a suburb in Cape Town, South Africa, bordered by Mowbray to the south, and Salt River to the north. The area is best known as student neighborhood, most of whom attend the University of Cape Town located close by, and for being the home of the South African Astronomical Observatory...
, Cape Town
Cape Town
Cape Town is the second-most populous city in South Africa, and the provincial capital and primate city of the Western Cape. As the seat of the National Parliament, it is also the legislative capital of the country. It forms part of the City of Cape Town metropolitan municipality...
.
He subsequently received formal theological training at St Peter’s, Pietermaritzburg
Pietermaritzburg
Pietermaritzburg is the capital and second largest city in the province of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. It was founded in 1838, and is currently governed by the Msunduzi Local Municipality. Its "purist" Zulu name is umGungundlovu, and this is the name used for the district municipality...
and St Bede’s, graduating with a Diploma in Theology.
Beck was ordained a Deacon in 1985 and Priest in 1986.
Fr Beck served at the Church of the Annunciation, in Paarl
Paarl
Paarl is a town with 191,013 inhabitants in the Western Cape province of South Africa. Its the third oldest European settlement in the Republic of South Africa and the largest town in the Cape Winelands. Due to the growth of the Mbekweni township, it is now a de facto urban unit with Wellington...
, where he was instituted as Rector in 1989.
Kimberley
Fr Beck was invited to serve as the Dean of Kimberley in 2002. He was installed as Dean and Rector of the Cathedral Church of St CyprianSt Cyprian's Cathedral, Kimberley
The Cathedral Church of St Cyprian the Martyr, Kimberley, is the seat of the Bishop of the Anglican Diocese of Kimberley and Kuruman, Anglican Church of Southern Africa. It became a Cathedral when the Synod of Bishops gave a mandate for the formation of the new Diocese of Kimberley and Kuruman in...
the Martyr in Kimberley on 8 February 2003.
During his Deanship a number of significant projects enhancing the fabric of the cathedral were carried out, including the construction of a ramp for access for the aged and disabled and a Garden of Remembrance. The latter was dedicated on the occasion of the centenary of the laying of the foundation stone of the Cathedral, 5 March 2007. Beck was serving at the time as Vicar General
Vicar general
A vicar general is the principal deputy of the bishop of a diocese for the exercise of administrative authority. As vicar of the bishop, the vicar general exercises the bishop's ordinary executive power over the entire diocese and, thus, is the highest official in a diocese or other particular...
for the Diocese of Kimberley and Kuruman following the retirement of Bishop Itumeleng Moseki
Itumeleng Baldwin Moseki
Itumeleng Baldwin Moseki was the eleventh Bishop of Kimberley and Kuruman from 1995 until his retirement in 2006. He was also a campaigner for the poor.-References:...
.
The centenary celebration, culminating on 13 May 2008, was marked by a series of services and events, including the hosting of Episcopal Synod
Synod
A synod historically is a council of a church, usually convened to decide an issue of doctrine, administration or application. In modern usage, the word often refers to the governing body of a particular church, whether its members are meeting or not...
and the Consecration and Enthronement of Bishop Oswald Swartz.
Having reviewed the earlier involvement of St Cyprian’s in formal education, one of the outcomes of the centenary was the rebirth of the St Cyprian’s Grammar School
St Cyprian's Grammar School, Kimberley
St. Cyprian's Grammar School in Kimberley, South Africa, is a co-educational English-medium independent school for Grades 1-12, attached to St Cyprian's Cathedral...
. Dean Beck, as one of the founders, chaired its Board of Governors and gave guidance to the school from its opening in 2009. Beck House at the school was named in his honour.
Retirement
Fr Beck’s retirement was marked by a Diocesan service on 31 July 2010. He was made Honorary CanonCanon (priest)
A canon is a priest or minister who is a member of certain bodies of the Christian clergy subject to an ecclesiastical rule ....
of the Cathedral on 12 September 2010, during a service of Solemn Evensong
Evening Prayer (Anglican)
Evening Prayer is a liturgy in use in the Anglican Communion and celebrated in the late afternoon or evening...
and Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament
Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament
Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament is a devotional ceremony celebrated within the Latin Rite of the Roman Catholic Church, as well as in some Anglican and Lutheran Churches, Liberal Catholic churches, Western Rite Orthodox churches, and Latinised Eastern Catholic Churches.Benediction of the...
.