Arthur Wesley Carr

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name = Arthur Wesley Carr


Arthur Wesley Carr
religion = Church of England
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Title = Dean of Westminster
Period = 1997-2006
Predecessor = Michael Mayne
Successor = John Robert Hall
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date of birth = 1941
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The Very Reverend (Arthur) Wesley Carr, KCVO, (born 1941) is an Anglican divine who was Dean of Westminster 1997-2006.

Early life

Dean Carr was educated at Dulwich College [ [http://www.dulwich.org.uk/News_1.aspx?news=1:26938&id=1:29354&id=1:29021 Dulwich College website] ] and thereafter at; Jesus College Oxford BA 1964, MA 1967, Jesus College, Cambridge, BA 1966, MA 1970, and the University of Sheffield PhD 1975.

After theological training at Ridley Hall, Cambridge in 1965 he was ordained a deacon 1967 and a priest 1968.

Career

His first appointment was as Curate at All Saints Church, Luton (Diocese of St Albans) 67-71. He was then Tutor 1970-1971 and Chaplain 1971-1972 at Ridley Hall, Cambridge. While at the University of Sheffield he was Honorary Curate at Ranmoor (Diocese of Sheffield) 1972-1974.

From 1974 to 1978 he was the Chaplain of Chelmsford Cathedral (Diocese of Chelmsford). Until 1982 he was also Deputy Director of the Cathedral Centre for Research and Training. From 1978 until 1987 he was a Canon Residentiary of the Cathedral. From 1976 to 1984 he was also Diocesan Director of Training.

In 1987 Carr left Chelmsford to become Dean of Bristol. In 1997 he moved to Westminster Abbey, where later that year he took the funeral service for Diana, Princess of Wales; five years later he took the funeral of Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother. In 1998 he was at the centre of a controversy over the dismissal of the Abbey's organist, Martin Neary, who had set up a private company to avoid tax on payments from outside for musical services rendered. At issue was what happened next to the money and what was accepted custom.

He was made an honorary DLitt of the University of the West of England, Bristol in 1997. Just prior retiring as Dean of Westminster in 2006 he was made a KCVO. As a clergyman he takes the precedence of a knight of the relevant order, but does not actually receive the accolade (i.e. dubbing by sword), and so did not become "Sir Wesley Carr".

Wesley Carr is the author of a number of books about aspects of the Christian faith.

References