John Robert Hall
Encyclopedia
John Robert Hall FRSA
(born 13 March 1949) is an English priest of the Church of England
. He is the current Dean
of Westminster
.
, Catford
and St Chad's College
, University of Durham (BA
). Following two years as a teacher he studied for ordination at Cuddesdon Theological College, Oxford
.
at St John the Divine's Church
in Kennington
from 1975 to 1978 and was then priest-in-charge of All Saints' Wimbledon
from 1978 to 1984.
From 1984 to 1992, Hall was vicar
of St Peter's Streatham
. He became Diocesan Director of Education, Blackburn
in 1992 (and a canon
residentiary of Blackburn Cathedral
in 1994). From 1998 to 2006 he was General Secretary of the National Society for Promoting Religious Education
and from 1998 to 2002 the General Secretary of the Church of England Board of Education, subsequently Chief Education Officer of the Church of England
(from 2002 to 2006). He also served as an honorary curate of St Alban's South Norwood
from 2003 to 2006.
At various times Hall has been a governor of 10 schools and two universities, a member of two local authority education committees and of the General Teaching Council for England
. He has written widely and debated publicly on educational matters and was instrumental in the production of the Dearing Report
in 2001 and its follow-up, which led to a significant expansion in the number of Church of England secondary schools. As Dean of Westminster he chairs the governors of Westminster School
and Westminster Abbey Choir School
.
Hall was awarded by Roehampton University
the honorary degree of Doctor of Divinity
in July 2007 and installed as pro-chancellor of the university in March 2011. He also became an honorary fellow of Canterbury Christ Church University
in November 2007 and received the honorary degree of Doctor of Theology
from the University of Chester
in March 2008. In February 2009, he became an honorary fellow of St Chad's College
, Durham
and, in May 2009, an honorary fellow of the College of Teachers
.
Hall's appointment as Dean of Westminster was announced in November 2006 and he assumed the office in December 2006. He is a fellow
of the Royal Society of Arts
. On 29 April 2011 he officiated at the Wedding of Prince William of Wales and Catherine Middleton.
Royal Society of Arts
The Royal Society for the encouragement of Arts, Manufacturers and Commerce is a British multi-disciplinary institution, based in London. The name Royal Society of Arts is frequently used for brevity...
(born 13 March 1949) is an English priest of the Church of England
Church of England
The Church of England is the officially established Christian church in England and the Mother Church of the worldwide Anglican Communion. The church considers itself within the tradition of Western Christianity and dates its formal establishment principally to the mission to England by St...
. He is the current Dean
Dean (religion)
A dean, in a church context, is a cleric holding certain positions of authority within a religious hierarchy. The title is used mainly in the Anglican Communion and the Roman Catholic Church.-Anglican Communion:...
of Westminster
Westminster Abbey
The Collegiate Church of St Peter at Westminster, popularly known as Westminster Abbey, is a large, mainly Gothic church, in the City of Westminster, London, United Kingdom, located just to the west of the Palace of Westminster. It is the traditional place of coronation and burial site for English,...
.
Education
Hall was educated at St Dunstan's CollegeSt Dunstan's College
St Dunstan's College is a co-educational independent school in London, England. It is a member of the Headmasters' and Headmistresses' Conference, and was an all-boys establishment until 1994...
, Catford
Catford
Catford is a district in south London, England, located in the London Borough of Lewisham. It is situated south-east of Charing Cross. The area is identified in the London Plan as one of 35 major centres in Greater London.-Architecture:...
and St Chad's College
St Chad's College
St Chad's College is a college of the University of Durham in England. One of the smallest of Durham's colleges in terms of student numbers , it has the largest staff, the most extensive college library facilities, and consistently the highest academic results in Durham...
, University of Durham (BA
Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
). Following two years as a teacher he studied for ordination at Cuddesdon Theological College, Oxford
Oxford
The city of Oxford is the county town of Oxfordshire, England. The city, made prominent by its medieval university, has a population of just under 165,000, with 153,900 living within the district boundary. It lies about 50 miles north-west of London. The rivers Cherwell and Thames run through...
.
Ministry
Hall served as assistant curateCurate
A curate is a person who is invested with the care or cure of souls of a parish. In this sense "curate" correctly means a parish priest but in English-speaking countries a curate is an assistant to the parish priest...
at St John the Divine's Church
St John the Divine, Kennington
St John the Divine, Kennington is an Anglican church in London. The parish of Kennington is within the Anglican Diocese of Southwark. The church was designed by the architect George Edmund Street in the Decorated Gothic style, and was built between 1871 and 1874...
in Kennington
Kennington
Kennington is a district of South London, England, mainly within the London Borough of Lambeth, although part of the area is within the London Borough of Southwark....
from 1975 to 1978 and was then priest-in-charge of All Saints' Wimbledon
Wimbledon, London
Wimbledon is a district in the south west area of London, England, located south of Wandsworth, and east of Kingston upon Thames. It is situated within Greater London. It is home to the Wimbledon Tennis Championships and New Wimbledon Theatre, and contains Wimbledon Common, one of the largest areas...
from 1978 to 1984.
From 1984 to 1992, Hall was vicar
Vicar
In the broadest sense, a vicar is a representative, deputy or substitute; anyone acting "in the person of" or agent for a superior . In this sense, the title is comparable to lieutenant...
of St Peter's Streatham
Streatham
Streatham is a district in Surrey, England, located in the London Borough of Lambeth. It is situated south of Charing Cross. The area is identified in the London Plan as one of 35 major centres in Greater London.-History:...
. He became Diocesan Director of Education, Blackburn
Diocese of Blackburn
The Diocese of Blackburn is a Church of England diocese, covering much of Lancashire, created in 1926 from part of the Diocese of Manchester. The Diocese includes the towns of Blackburn, Blackpool, Burnley, and the cities of Lancaster, and Preston, as well as a large part of the Ribble Valley...
in 1992 (and a 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 ....
residentiary of Blackburn Cathedral
Blackburn Cathedral
Blackburn Cathedral, officially known as the Cathedral Church of Blackburn Saint Mary the Virgin, is a cathedral situated in the heart of Blackburn town centre, in Lancashire, England...
in 1994). From 1998 to 2006 he was General Secretary of the National Society for Promoting Religious Education
National Society for Promoting Religious Education
The National Society for Promoting Religious Education, often just referred to as the National Society, is a Church of England body in England and Wales for the promotion of church schools and Christian education....
and from 1998 to 2002 the General Secretary of the Church of England Board of Education, subsequently Chief Education Officer of the Church of England
Church of England
The Church of England is the officially established Christian church in England and the Mother Church of the worldwide Anglican Communion. The church considers itself within the tradition of Western Christianity and dates its formal establishment principally to the mission to England by St...
(from 2002 to 2006). He also served as an honorary curate of St Alban's South Norwood
South Norwood
South Norwood is an urban town and in south London, England, in the London Borough of Croydon. It is a suburban development 7.8 miles south-east of Charing Cross. South Norwood is an electoral with a resident population in 2001 of just over 14,000...
from 2003 to 2006.
At various times Hall has been a governor of 10 schools and two universities, a member of two local authority education committees and of the General Teaching Council for England
General Teaching Council for England
The General Teaching Council for England is the professional body for teaching in England. The GTC was established by the Teaching and Higher Education Act 1998 which set two aims:...
. He has written widely and debated publicly on educational matters and was instrumental in the production of the Dearing Report
Dearing Report
The Dearing Report, formally known as the reports of the National Committee of Inquiry into Higher Education is a series of major reports into the future of Higher Education in the United Kingdom, published in 1997. The report was commissioned by the UK government and was the largest review of...
in 2001 and its follow-up, which led to a significant expansion in the number of Church of England secondary schools. As Dean of Westminster he chairs the governors of Westminster School
Westminster School
The Royal College of St. Peter in Westminster, almost always known as Westminster School, is one of Britain's leading independent schools, with the highest Oxford and Cambridge acceptance rate of any secondary school or college in Britain...
and Westminster Abbey Choir School
Westminster Abbey Choir School
Westminster Abbey Choir School is a British boarding preparatory school and the only school in the United Kingdom exclusively for the education of boy choristers. It is located in Dean's Yard, by Westminster Abbey...
.
Hall was awarded by Roehampton University
Roehampton University
The University of Roehampton is a campus university in the United Kingdom, situated on three major sites in Roehampton, south-west London.-History:...
the honorary degree of Doctor of Divinity
Doctor of Divinity
Doctor of Divinity is an advanced academic degree in divinity. Historically, it identified one who had been licensed by a university to teach Christian theology or related religious subjects....
in July 2007 and installed as pro-chancellor of the university in March 2011. He also became an honorary fellow of Canterbury Christ Church University
Canterbury Christ Church University
Canterbury Christ Church University is a university in Canterbury, Kent, England. Founded as a Church of England college for teaching training it has grown to full university status and will celebrate its 50th anniversary in 2012. The focus of its work is in the education of people going into...
in November 2007 and received the honorary degree of Doctor of Theology
Doctor of Theology
Doctor of Theology is a terminal academic degree in theology. It is a research degree that is considered by the U.S. National Science Foundation to be the equivalent of a Doctor of Philosophy....
from the University of Chester
University of Chester
The University of Chester is a public research university located in Chester, United Kingdom. The University, based on a main campus in Chester and a smaller campus in Warrington, offers a range of foundation, undergraduate and postgraduate courses, as well as undertaking academic research.Chester...
in March 2008. In February 2009, he became an honorary fellow of St Chad's College
St Chad's College
St Chad's College is a college of the University of Durham in England. One of the smallest of Durham's colleges in terms of student numbers , it has the largest staff, the most extensive college library facilities, and consistently the highest academic results in Durham...
, Durham
Durham
Durham is a city in north east England. It is within the County Durham local government district, and is the county town of the larger ceremonial county...
and, in May 2009, an honorary fellow of the College of Teachers
College of Teachers
The College of Teachers is an examining body and learned society of teachers, professors and associated professionals who work in education in the United Kingdom and elsewhere....
.
Hall's appointment as Dean of Westminster was announced in November 2006 and he assumed the office in December 2006. He is a fellow
Fellow
A fellow in the broadest sense is someone who is an equal or a comrade. The term fellow is also used to describe a person, particularly by those in the upper social classes. It is most often used in an academic context: a fellow is often part of an elite group of learned people who are awarded...
of the Royal Society of Arts
Royal Society of Arts
The Royal Society for the encouragement of Arts, Manufacturers and Commerce is a British multi-disciplinary institution, based in London. The name Royal Society of Arts is frequently used for brevity...
. On 29 April 2011 he officiated at the Wedding of Prince William of Wales and Catherine Middleton.