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You may know the Revd Canon Dr Rowan Williams as the Precentor of Peterborough Cathedral but do you know what this role entails and do you know that she is also the Liturgical Advisor for the whole diocese?
Rowan Williams was installed as Precentor in September 2018 following nearly nine years as Chaplain to the University of York. Since her ordination in 2005 she has worked as a hospital chaplain, studied for a PhD in early Franciscan theology, completed an MA in English Church Music from the University of York and written two books. Her work within the cathedral is varied and combines her interest in liturgy and music that began as a student at King’s College, Cambridge.
Rowan organises all the services that take place at Peterborough Cathedral. She creates a rota detailing who will lead and preach for each service and is then responsible for planning the service content, selecting hymns and designing service sheets. The number of services can soon add up as Rowan says ‘there are a minimum of two services in the cathedral every day of the year, with four or five on Sundays and at major festivals, so the total number in a year is quite high!’ For all services to be seamless she also liaises with the vergers, readers and intercessors in addition to any volunteers who contribute to worship such as the flower guild and bell ringers. For larger services like ordinations, Maundy Thursday and Chrism Eucharist, Rowan liaises with the Bishop’s Office when arranging the service details.
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Rowan’s role extends beyond the cathedral, across the diocese. She can provide training, within parishes and deaneries, for those wishing to read well or lead intercessions and she can offer advice on how to lead different styles of worship or how to choose music. For clergy and licensed lay ministers consultations can be provided to discuss what material is available to mark big occasions such as a coronation, or how to get the best out of Common Worship. Rowan can also train first year curates in how to celebrate the Eucharist.
Rowan can be contacted here for further information on available training. She can also be contacted should your parish like to visit the cathedral or bring a group to one of the services.