Canon Theologian to retire

Tuesday, 6th March 2018

Canon Theologian to retire

The Reverend Professor Vernon White, who has been Canon Theologian of Westminster Abbey since June 2011 and a Visiting Professor at King’s College London, is to retire at the end of September 2018.

Canon White has been a member of the steering group for the Westminster Abbey Institute, since its inception in 2013 with the aim of working with the public service institutions around Parliament Square to revitalise moral and spiritual values in public life, and given lectures for the Institute and in other Abbey contexts. Since 2016, Canon White has also served as Sub-Dean.

The Dean of Westminster, the Very Reverend Dr John Hall, said

Vernon White has exercised a significant ministry at the Abbey, especially in his preaching and lecturing but also in matters of policy, for example with regard to making better known and extending the Abbey’s social engagement. He and Joy, who has held three art exhibitions at the Abbey, have been highly valued colleagues.

Canon White said

I am truly grateful for the opportunity to have served in this extraordinary place, with its unique mission, for the past 7 years. It has been a privilege to work alongside such dedicated staff and colleagues. I will now be moving on to pursue more writing and teaching.

The vacant post, a Crown appointment, is to be advertised in the Church Times and on the Abbey website on Friday this week.