New Canon Precentor to be installed at York Minster

The Reverend Peter Moger will be installed as the new Canon Precentor at York Minster on Sunday 12th September during Evensong at 4.00pm.

In his role as Precentor and Member of Minster Chapter, Peter Moger will be responsible for planning and organising the daily and weekly worship at York Minster. In addition to the many forms of public service taking place at York Minster, he will lead on intricate services which have previously included the installation of the Dean of York, the Reverend Keith Jones, in June 2004, the inauguration of the Archbishop of York, Dr. John Sentamu in November 2005 and the consecration of Bishops for the Northern Province.

The Dean of York, the Very Reverend Keith Jones, said, "All of us are much looking forward to welcoming the Moger family to York Minster. Peter will find an excellent team to work with here in presenting worship and in music, and we look forward to having him as a member of the Chapter.  It will also be a relief I am sure to Canon Webster, who has added to his workload by so ably holding the fort as acting Precentor for more than a year, and can now hand the work of Precentor on!"

Peter Moger said, "I am delighted to taking up the post following my installation on 12th September - and to working with colleagues to contribute to the Minster's mission through worship and music.  My family and I have settled very happily in York over the summer and are and looking forward to becoming a part of the Minister community."

Peter was born in the East Riding of Yorkshire and read Music at Merton College, Oxford. After postgraduate study in composition, he taught as Director of Music at Wadhurst College in Sussex and served as organist of the local parish church. He then read Theology and trained for ordination at St John's College, Durham, where he was Organ Scholar.

After a curacy at Whitby, Peter served successively as Minor Canon Precentor at Ely Cathedral and as Vicar of Godmanchester. In 2005, he was appointed as the Church of England's first National Worship Development Officer to work with the Liturgical Commission to enable good practice in the leading and preparation of worship and in 2009 took on additional responsibility as Secretary of the Liturgical Commission. He has served both locally and nationally with the Royal School of Church Music and has contributed music and liturgy to a wide range of publications. In 2008 he co-edited Worship Changes Lives for the Liturgical Commission, and in 2009 published Crafting Common Worship.

Peter is married to Heather, a professional recorder player and Suzuki teacher; they have two sons, Thomas (18) and David (16).

Peter succeeds the Reverend Jeremy Fletcher who left the Minster in July 2009 to become Vicar of Beverley Minster in the East Riding of Yorkshire.

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