RIP: Robert Willis, dean emeritus of Canterbury Cathedral
[Berkeley Divinity School at Yale] Berkeley Divinity School at Yale on Oct. 29 announced the death of the Very Rev. Robert Willis, dean emeritus of Canterbury cathedral, who died suddenly on Oct. 22 while a resident fellow at the school. He was 77.
The school shared a message from his partner Fletcher Banner at his request:
“It is with great sadness that I have to tell you all of Dean Robert’s passing. After a brief illness whilst at Yale in America, Robert suffered heart failure and died last night. Robert was a man of great faith and intellect whose greatest joy was to share his life with others. This has been particularly so since we left Canterbury and have been welcomed elsewhere all over the world. Robert has been my partner in life and ministry for more than 20 wonderful years. Like me I am sure you will carry his memory in your hearts. Details of the funeral, which will take place in New Haven, to follow and of a memorial service next year at Salisbury Cathedral.”
Willis was preacher at Berkeley’s Convocation Eucharist last Oct. 9, during which the Berkeley Center renewal was celebrated. He had been a host to pilgrims from Berkeley Divinity School while dean of Canterbury Cathedral for well over a decade, and he received the honorary degree of doctor of divinity in 2009.
Willis was dean of Canterbury Cathedral from 2001 to 2022 after being dean of Hereford Cathedral from 1992 to 2000. Educated at the University of Warwick and then at Oxford, he ministered in Shrewsbury, Salisbury, Tisbury and at Sherborne Abbey before his leadership of the two English cathedrals. He was also a noted hymn writer and became globally prominent during the COVID-19 pandemic during which his Morning Prayer services on YouTube, accompanied by beautiful gardens and curious cats, became known to many thousands.
