Chris Chivers

Chris Chivers

Canon Chris Chivers was appointed Vicar of John Keble Church, Mill Hill,^[1] in the Diocese of London, in 2010.

Born on 16 July 1967, he was educated at Bristol Cathedral School^[2] where he was a chorister in the cathedral choir and pupil assistant organist, studying the organ with Clifford Harker.

He subsequently read for a degree in music at Magdalen College, Oxford^[3] (1985–88) where he was an Academical Clerk (Choral Scholar) in the College Choir, the President of the College Music Society and Musical Director of the Oxford Chamber Choir. He studied under Bojan Bujic and John Harper, and singing with Janet Edmunds. He is a published composer whose choral works have been sung by the choirs of King's College, Cambridge, Westminster Abbey, Blackburn, Bristol, Cape Town and Gloucester Cathedrals, as well as by the choirs of Caius and Queens' Colleges in Cambridge and New College, Magdalen, Lincoln and St Peter's Colleges in Oxford. His works include: Our Blessed Lady's Lullaby (1988), Ecce puer (1994), Mayenziwe Magnificat (2000) and Diptych (2006).

Following graduation he successively spent short spells as Director of Music at New College School, Oxford^[4] and Assistant Director of Music at The Cheltenham Ladies' College^[5] before being appointed as Lay Chaplain, Housemaster and Choristers' Tutor at King's College School, Cambridge^[6] (1989–1994), where he had pastoral responsibility for the choristers of the world-famous King's College Choir.

In 1994 he went to Westcott House, Cambridge^[7] to prepare for ordination (1994–1997)whilst reading for a Theology and Religious Studies degree at Selwyn College, Cambridge (1994–1996)^[8] where he studied under Andrew Chester, John Sweet, Nicholas de Lange, Nicholas Sagovsky, Martin Forward and Ivor Jones, winning a college prize for New Testament Greek in 1995 and the University Theological Studies Prize in 1996. At Westcott he was Chapel Musician and a member of the College Council. He also spent much of his third year (1996–97) in South Africa devising a workshop (Children's Ubuntu Project)^[9] to support the work of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission^[10] and working with street children and those living with HIV and AIDS. This led to his first book, Echoes of a Rainbow Song^[11] (1996 and, second edition, 1999).

He was ordained in 1997 in St Paul's Cathedral by the Bishop of London, and served his curacy in the Parish of Friern Barnet.^[12] 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.^[13]

In North London he met and married his wife Mary Chivers and they had their first son Dominic (born 1999) before moving to Cape Town where Canon Chivers took up an appointment as Canon Precentor of St. George's Cathedral, Cape Town.^[14] This appointment saw him oversee the cathedral's liturgy, music and outreach programmes. In 2000–2001 he coordinated the cathedral's centenary year and was director of the project to add 'Liberation panels' to the cathedral's Great West Window as one of the first public memorials in South Africa to the anti-apartheid struggle.^[15] He was also chair of the Cape Town Holocaust Centre's interfaith support group and became one of the first priests in the world to give an address at Friday Prayers in a Mosque – the Claremont Main Road Masjid – following 9/11. He contributed frequently as a freelance journalist to Cape Times, Cape Argus and Sunday Independent, and a collection of his articles and sermons, The Hard Road to Glory (Pretext Publishing) appeared in 2001.^[16][17] His and Mary's second son, Gregory was born in Cape Town in 2000.

In November 2001 he was appointed Precentor of Westminster Abbey in London, with responsibility for the worship of one of the world's busiest religious institutions. At the same time he became Chaplain of Westminster Abbey Choir School. Within months he had overseen the Funeral of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother on the same day that he led a service for victims of the Rwandan Genocide. A book of sermons, The Open Window (Pretext Publishing), appeared in 2004.^[18] In 2000 he became a founding Trustee of the Kay Mason Foundation^[19] and in 2004 a Trustee of the South African Church Development Trust.^[20]

Late in 2004 the Crown announced his appointment as Canon Chancellor of Blackburn Cathedral.^[21][22] He was installed in March 2005 with a specific brief to develop inter-faith relations as the cathedral's canon theologian and almost immediately became the founding director of exChange, the cathedral's community cohesion, education, outreach and interfaith development agency. During his time at the cathedral he has appointed the first Muslim, Anjum Anwar MBE, to the staff of a cathedral anywhere in the world, to act as dialogue development officer, and the two of them have formed a Christian-Muslim dialogue partnership that is a first of its kind. This work has been the subject of numerous articles, profiles and newspaper letters.^{[23][24][25][26]} It has also been featured in their own contributions to leading public discussions.^{[27][28][29][30]} He and Anjum Anwar presented a paper at the international conference, Beyond Reconciliation, held at the University of Cape Town in December 2009 to mark the UN Year of Reconciliation.^[31]

Canon Chivers has continued to write as a free-lance journalist for Cape Times,^[32][33] Cape Argus, Sunday Independent (SA), The Times, The Guardian,^{[34][35][36][37]} The Independent,^[38] Church Times,^[39] Church of England Newspaper and The Tablet,^[40] among other periodicals and journals. Since 2005 he has published a Lent Book, Dear Dom and Greg... (Pretext Publishing, 2006) and two collections of haiku: Jerusalem haiku (2007) and South African haiku (2008), also for Pretext Publishing. He has edited the Collected Poems of Harry Wiggett 1970–2006 (Pretext Publishing 2007) and also contributed to the CAFOD/Christian Aid Lent book (published by Darton, Longman and Todd) in 2005 and 2009,^[41] to several collections edited by Geoffrey Duncan (Canterbury Press and Methodist Publishing) and to Just one year, edited by Timothy Radcliffe with Jean Harrison (Darton, Longman and Todd).^[42] He wrote a guidebook to Blackburn Cathedral for Scala Publications which was published in 2010, the year in which Fully Alive (Pretext Publishing) appeared. The Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr Rowan Williams commended the book, saying: "These are wonderfully crafted reflections, clear, light-touch, sometimes poignant, full of insight and unexpected revelations. Chris Chivers brings together all sorts of experiences, as priest and parent, thinker and commentator, experiences from the United Kingdom and South Africa and elsewhere, in a collection that has great inner coherence, and makes Christian discipleship deeply attractive as well as reminding at least one reader of the challenges of discipleship that have still to be met."

Appointed a Trustee of USPG: Anglicans in World Mission in 2005^[43] he has since 2006 been a Presenter of Daily Service for BBC Radio 4^[44] and broadcasts frequently on local and national radio. In 2006 he scripted and broadcast the BBC Radio 4 Christmas Meditation with Archbishop Emeritus Desmond Tutu and in 2009 he broadcast live from the Inauguration of President Barack Obama in Washington DC.^[45][46]

In 2008 he was the named the North West's Man of the Year in the Fusion awards^[47][48] for his work to foster community relationships, the same year he received an award^[49] at the British Muslims' Awards Dinner in the House of Lords and acted as a worship coordinator for the Lambeth Conferences.^[50]

He acts as a faith advisor to the Charity Commission, a community advisor to the Holocaust Memorial Day Trust and also advises figures in local and national government and the Police.

In 2009 he became a Companion of the Melanesian Brotherhood, the largest Anglican monastic order in the world.^[51][52]

His and Mary's third son, Jonathan was born in 2007.

References

1. ^ "John Keble Front Page". Johnkeble.org.uk. http://www.johnkeble.org.uk/. Retrieved 21 October 2011. 
2. ^ "Bristol Cathedral Choir School – BCCS". Bccs.bristol.sch.uk. http://www.bccs.bristol.sch.uk/. Retrieved 21 October 2011. 
3. ^ "Home – Magdalen College". Magd.ox.ac.uk. 14 June 2010. http://www.magd.ox.ac.uk/. Retrieved 21 October 2011. 
4. ^ "New College School, Oxford". Newcollege.oxon.sch.uk. http://www.newcollege.oxon.sch.uk/. Retrieved 21 October 2011. 
5. ^ "Home » The Cheltenham Ladies' College". Cheltladiescollege.org. http://www.cheltladiescollege.org/. Retrieved 21 October 2011. 
6. ^ "King's College School". Kcs.cambs.sch.uk. http://www.kcs.cambs.sch.uk/. Retrieved 21 October 2011. 
7. ^ "Westcott House". Westcott.cam.ac.uk. http://www.westcott.cam.ac.uk/. Retrieved 21 October 2011. 
8. ^ "Selwyn College, Cambridge". Sel.cam.ac.uk. http://www.sel.cam.ac.uk/. Retrieved 21 October 2011. 
9. ^ "Issue 17". Faithinitiative.co.uk. http://www.faithinitiative.co.uk/library.php?issue=17. Retrieved 21 October 2011. 
10. ^ "Truth and Reconciliation Commission". Justice.gov.za. http://www.justice.gov.za/trc/. Retrieved 21 October 2011. 
11. ^ Chivers, Chris (26 May 2010). "Echoes of a Rainbow Song | Free Delivery @". Eden.co.uk. http://www.eden.co.uk/shop/echoes-of-a-rainbow-song-1187199.html. Retrieved 21 October 2011. 
12. ^ "parishoffriernbarnet.co.uk". parishoffriernbarnet.co.uk. http://www.parishoffriernbarnet.co.uk/. Retrieved 21 October 2011. 
13. ^ "The fifth Times book of best sermons – Ruth Gledhill – Google Books". Books.google.co.uk. http://www.books.google.co.uk/books?isbn=0304706566. Retrieved 21 October 2011. 
14. ^ Linda Louw. "St George's Cathedral, Cape Town". Stgeorgescathedral.com. http://www.stgeorgescathedral.com/. Retrieved 21 October 2011. 
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17. ^ "A Globe of Witnesses". Thewitness.org. http://thewitness.org/agw/agwchivers.html. Retrieved 21 October 2011. 
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20. ^ Axis Studios, Inc.. "Seattle Athletic Club Downtown | Seattle's Best Health & Fitness Club". Sacdt.com. http://www.sacdt.com/. Retrieved 21 October 2011. 
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22. ^ http://www.number10.gov.uk/Page6652
23. ^ http://www.newhumanist.org.uk › Articles › Volume 124 Issue 3 May/June 2009
24. ^ Post. "The Times | UK News, World News and Opinion". The Times. UK. http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/uk/article663381.ece. Retrieved 21 October 2011. 
25. ^ "Letters: Ashamed to be English – Letters, Opinion". The Independent. UK. 31 August 2005. http://www.independent.co.uk/opinion/letters/letters-ashamed-to-be-english-504861.html. Retrieved 21 October 2011. 
26. ^ "2009 September « Nick Baines's Blog". Nickbaines.wordpress.com. http://www.nickbaines.wordpress.com/2009/09/. Retrieved 21 October 2011. 
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28. ^ "Sermons". Bradfordcathedral.co.uk. http://www.bradfordcathedral.co.uk/sermons/sermons.htm. Retrieved 21 October 2011. 
29. ^ "Gods in the city: intercultural and ... – Google Books". Books.google.co.uk. http://www.books.google.co.uk/books?isbn=9287163847. Retrieved 21 October 2011. 
30. ^ "Programmes | Panorama | White Fright: transcript". BBC News. 25 May 2007. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/programmes/panorama/6692667.stm. Retrieved 21 October 2011. 
31. ^ "Presenters". Beyond Reconciliation. 6 December 2009. http://www.beyondreconciliation.co.za/presenters. Retrieved 21 October 2011. 
32. ^ Independent Newspapers Online. "IOL.co.za". Cape Times. http://www.capetimes.co.za/. Retrieved 21 October 2011. 
33. ^ Independent Newspapers Online. "IOL.co.za". Cape Times. http://www.capetimes.co.za/index.php?fPage=0&fSectionId=3227&fSearch=1&fQuery=chris+chivers&fSearchType=1&fSortMode=0&fStartDay=4&fStartMonth=4&fStartYear=2002&fEndDay=4&fEndMonth=4&fEndYear=2010&fAuthor=. Retrieved 21 October 2011. 
34. ^ http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2007/.../comment.religion
35. ^ http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/.../religion.anglicanism
36. ^ [3]^{[dead link]}
37. ^ http://www.commentisfree.guardian.co.uk/chris_chivers/
38. ^ "Canon David Isitt: Pioneering priest in the fields of counselling, ecumenism and theological education – Obituaries, News". The Independent. UK. http://www.independent.co.uk/news/obituaries/canon-david-isitt-pioneering-priest-in-the-fields-of-counselling-ecumenism-and-theological-education-1786972.html. Retrieved 21 October 2011. 
39. ^ "Mandela’s priest". Church Times. http://www.churchtimes.co.uk/content.asp?id=43948. Retrieved 21 October 2011. 
40. ^ "International Catholic weekly newspaper". The Tablet. 19 July 2008. http://www.thetablet.co.uk/goprev.php?issue=1000109. Retrieved 21 October 2011. 
41. ^ "LENT BOOKS: Where the real joys of Lent are rooted". Church Times. 18 January 2008. http://www.churchtimes.co.uk/content.asp?id=49893. Retrieved 21 October 2011. 
42. ^ Radcliffe, Timothy. "Just One Year: A Global Treasury of Prayer and Worship: Timothy Radcliffe: 9781570757143". Christianbook.com. http://www.christianbook.com/just-year.../timothy-radcliffe/.../pd/757143. Retrieved 21 October 2011. 
43. ^ "About Us – Trustees". USPG. http://www.uspg.org.uk/article.php?article_id=201. Retrieved 21 October 2011. 
44. ^ "Religion and Ethics – Daily Service". BBC. 28 August 2007. http://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/programmes/dailyservice/. Retrieved 21 October 2011. 
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46. ^ "Letters: UK needs Europe – Letters, Opinion". The Independent. UK. 7 November 2008. http://www.independent.co.uk/.../letters-uk-needs-eurpoe-998507.html. Retrieved 21 October 2011. 
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48. ^ "Top stories | From". The Guardian. UK. 29 May 2008. http://www.guardian.co.uk/theguardian/2008/may/29/. Retrieved 21 October 2011. 
49. ^ "News". Lancashire Mosques. 7 July 2008. http://www.lancashiremosques.com/news_article.asp?ID=4432. Retrieved 21 October 2011. 
50. ^ http://www.anglicancommunion.org/resources/aw/online/issues/newsletter3.pdf
51. ^ "The Melanesian Brotherhood". Orders.anglican.org. http://orders.anglican.org/mbh/. Retrieved 21 October 2011. 
52. ^ "Melanesian Brotherhood – Wikipedia, the free encyclopaedia". En.wikipedia.org. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melanesian_Brotherhood. Retrieved 21 October 2011. 

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