Southwell Minster is preparing to welcome their new Canon Precentor, The Reverend Dr Richard Frith, who will be licensed by the Bishop of Southwell & Nottingham, the Rt Revd Paul Williams, on Sunday 8th September.
Richard will lead the creative development of music and worship at the cathedral following his role as vicar of Holy Trinity and St Jude Church in Halifax, an ethnically-diverse suburban parish within the Diocese of Leeds. He served his curacy with St. Mary Magdalene Church, Oxford, and prior to ordination worked as a publishing editor.
He says:
“I’m hugely looking forward to putting this liturgical, musical, and pastoral experience to good use at Southwell, and to working with the chapter, the choirs and music department, and the rest of the Minster team to develop Southwell’s worshipping and wider spiritual life in the years to come.”
Richard was born and brought up in Rotherham. He joined his parish church choir at the age of 10 – which was the beginning of his journey of faith and love of choral worship.
His ministry has been shaped by teaching and developing Christian discipleship particularly with children and families, accessible liturgical worship and a deep love of the choral tradition.
The Dean, the Very Revd Nicola Sullivan commented:
“I am thankful to God for calling Richard to the Cathedral to share the rich opportunities for the further development of worship, mission and discipleship. He will bring liturgical, musical and pastoral gifts to the team and will support the Minster in being a deep well of prayer and inspiration for the local community and diocese.”
Richard is married to Emma and they have an 11-year old son, Stephen, who will be beginning his secondary education at the Minster School. Richard said:
“We are all very excited at the possibilities and opportunities that moving to Southwell will bring, and we are looking forward to making friends and becoming part of the local community as we make our home in Vicars’ Court.”
Richard will be licensed in Southwell Minster at Festal Evensong at 3.30pm on 8th September 2019.
For further information please contact: paul.provost@southwellminster.org.uk
Notes to editors:
Canon is the title given to a cleric who is a member of a cathedral and derives from the fact that he or she is bound by the rules or canons of that cathedral. Some canons have specific roles within the life of the cathedral e.g, treasurer, chancellor, missioner or precentor and are known as residentiary canons and, with the dean, form the chapter, which is the governing body of the cathedral, comprising lay and ordained members responsible for the maintenance of worship within the cathedral as well as the governance, policy, strategic vision and financial management of all aspects of the cathedral’s life. The cathedral is the seat of the bishop and serves a diocese.
A precentor is a person who helps facilitate worship. The Latin derivation is præcentor, from cantor, meaning ‘the one who sings first.’