Alan Webster (priest)
{{short description|English Anglican dean}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}}
{{Infobox Christian leader
| type = Priest
| honorific_prefix = The Very Reverend
| name = Alan Webster
| honorific_suffix = {{Post-nominals|country=GBR|size=100%|KCVO}}
| title = Dean of St Paul's
| image =
| image_size =
| alt =
| caption =
| church = Church of England
| province =
| diocese = Diocese of London
| term = 1978 – 1987
| predecessor = Martin Sullivan
| successor = Eric Evans
| other_post = {{plain list|
- Warden of Lincoln Theological College (1959–70)
- Dean of Norwich (1970–78) }}
| ordination = 1942
| ordained_by =
| consecration =
| consecrated_by =
| birth_name = Alan Brunskill Webster
| birth_date = 1 July 1918
| birth_place =
| death_date = {{Death date and age|df=y|3 September 2007|1 July 1918}}
| death_place =
| buried =
| resting_place_coordinates =
| nationality = British
| religion = Anglicanism
| residence =
| parents =
| spouse =
| children =
| occupation =
| profession =
| education = Shrewsbury School
| alma_mater = The Queen's College, Oxford
}}
File:Norwich Cathedral, memorial (2) - geograph.org.uk - 5069354.jpg
Alan Brunskill Webster {{Post-nominals|country=GBR|size=100%|KCVO}} (1 July 1918 – 3 September 2007) was a British Anglican priest. He had a varied career, serving in parish roles, heading a theological college, and leading two cathedrals as their dean. As Dean of Norwich from 1970 to 1978, he modernised the cathedral and its services, and opened up its buildings to the public. He ended his ministry as Dean of St Paul's, between 1978 and 1987, during which the cathedral saw the Wedding of Charles and Diana, and the so-called 'Victory Service' following the Falklands War.The Deans, T.R. Beeson, London, SCM, 2004, {{ISBN|0-334-02987-2}}[http://www.churchtimes.co.uk/content.asp?id=44367 Church Times]
Early life and education
Webster was born on 1 July 1918.Who was Who 1897-2007, London, A & C Black, 2007 {{ISBN|978-0-19-954087-7}} His father, the Reverend John Webster, was the vicar of St Margaret's Church in Wrenbury, Cheshire, where he lived until 1935.Local History Group, Latham FA (ed), Wrenbury and Marbury, p67 (The Local History Group; 1999), {{ISBN|0-9522284-5-9}} He was educated at Shrewsbury School, then an all-boys public school in Shrewsbury, Shropshire. He studied at The Queen's College, Oxford, graduating with a Bachelor of Arts (BA) degree in 1939: as per tradition, his BA was promoted to a Master of Arts (MA Oxon) degree.University News Scholarships, The Times, 21 December 1936, p19{{Crockford| surname = Webster | forenames = Alan Brunskill | id = 34643 | accessed = 25 January 2021}} He attended Westcott House, Cambridge for training for Holy Orders from 1941 to 1942, and was later awarded a Bachelor of Divinity (BD) by Queen's in 1954.
Ordained ministry
Webster was ordained in 1942Crockford's Clerical Directory Lambeth, Church House, 1976 {{ISBN|0-19-200008-X}} and began his ordained ministry with curacies in Attercliffe and Arbourthorne. He was then chaplain and vice principal of Westcott House, Cambridge, and then the vicar of Barnard Castle. From 1959 to 1970, he served as Warden of Lincoln Theological College.
In 1970, Webster was appointed the Dean of Norwich. During his time leading Norwich Cathedral, he modernised and opened up the cathedral and its close to the public: he introduced a nave altar for the Alternative Service Book (1980) service of Holy Communion, toilets and an exhibition space within the cathedral building, and converting some of the cathedral's houses into a homeless shelter, an old peoples home and a study centre.{{cite web |last1=Edwards |first1=David L. |title=The Very Rev Alan Webster |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/obituaries/the-very-rev-alan-webster-401396.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090204231339/http://www.independent.co.uk/news/obituaries/the-very-rev-alan-webster-401396.html |archive-date=2009-02-04 |url-access=limited |url-status=live |website=The Independent |access-date=25 January 2021 |language=en |date=18 September 2011}} He founded Norwich Night Shelter in 1973, and Cathedral Camps in 1981.
In 1978, he moved to the Diocese of London where he had been appointed Dean of St Paul's Cathedral. He organised and presided at the wedding service of Prince Charles and Lady Diana.{{cite news |title=Very Rev Alan Webster |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/obituaries/1562292/Very-Rev-Alan-Webster.html |access-date=25 January 2021 |work=The Telegraph |date=6 September 2007}} He was in charge of the July 1982 'Victory Service' following the Falklands War, and attempted to include a Spanish-language translation of the Lord's Prayer into the service.{{cite news |last1=Swinford |first1=Steven |title=Queen asked to intervene over Falklands Memorial Service |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/politics/margaret-thatcher/9767891/Queen-asked-to-intervene-over-Falklands-Memorial-Service.html |access-date=21 January 2021 |work=The Telegraph |date=28 December 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210120130457/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/politics/margaret-thatcher/9767891/Queen-asked-to-intervene-over-Falklands-Memorial-Service.html |archive-date=20 January 2021}} He retired from full-time ministry in 1987 and was appointed Dean Emeritus.{{cite web |title=Webster, Very Rev. Alan Brunskill, (1 July 1918–3 Sept. 2007), Dean of St Paul's, 1978–87, then Dean Emeritus |url=https://www.ukwhoswho.com/view/10.1093/ww/9780199540891.001.0001/ww-9780199540884-e-39173 |website=Who Was Who |publisher=Oxford University Press |access-date=25 January 2021 |language=en |doi=10.1093/ww/9780199540884.013.U39173 |date=1 December 2016|isbn=978-0-19-954089-1 }}
His writings included Joshua Watson (1954), Broken Bones May Joy (1968), Julian of Norwich (1974) and Reaching for Reality (2002).
References
{{Portal|Christianity}}
{{reflist}}
{{S-start}}
{{S-rel|en}}
{{S-bef|before= Norman Hook}}
{{S-ttl|title=Dean of Norwich|years=1970– 1978}}
{{S-aft|after= David Lawrence Edwards}}
{{S-bef|before= Martin Gloster Sullivan }}
{{S-ttl|title=Dean of St Paul's|years=1978 – 1987}}
{{S-aft|after=Thomas Eric Evans}}
{{End}}
{{Deans of Norwich}}
{{St Paul's Cathedral}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Webster, Alan}}
Category:People educated at Shrewsbury School
Category:Alumni of the Queen's College, Oxford
Category:Knights Commander of the Royal Victorian Order
Category:Staff of Westcott House, Cambridge