Minor Canon (Precentor) 1. JOB DESCRIPTION 1. The post is customarily held by a priest for approximately 3 years, having served their title and before their first incumbency. It is an excellent role for someone interested in worship and music of the highest quality, working closely with one of the most active cathedral congregations in the country. The Minor Canon (Precentor) needs to have a dedication to pastoral work, and a commitment to congregational development and nurturing the congregation, as well as a lively interest in liturgy and music. He or she must have a good singing voice, musical and liturgical abilities, knowledge of a broad spectrum of church music, editorial and administrative skills, and be computer literate. 2. The Minor Canon (Precentor) is in a unique position both to maintain good relations with the Diocese and to further the work of the Church with people with whom there is only occasional contact. There may be a diocesan farewell service for a suffragan bishop to arrange one day, the county Justice Service to discuss the next, and a memorial service to plan with people who have firm but outlandish ideas. He or she needs to be skilled in juggling the complex demands of those who use the Cathedral. 3. In common with other clergy colleagues based at the Cathedral, he or she is expected to be at Morning and Evening Prayer. 4. Responsibilities fall into two main areas: 4.1 As Precentor The Minor Canon (Precentor) works in close conjunction with the Master of the Music who is responsible to the Dean for the music within the services; also with the Head Virger, the Diary Secretary (Dean s PA), the Administrator and the Cathedral Wardens who are responsible for arrangements in the Cathedral building. In particular he or she will be responsible for: singing Matins and Evensong when a choir is present (with the help of colleagues to cover days off etc). This generally means weekday Evensongs at 5pm when either the boys or girls choir sings. The choir of boys or girls and men sings on Saturdays. On Sundays, the main Choral services are at 11.15 am (Choral Eucharist except on the 3 rd Sunday when Matins is sung) and Evensong at 6.30pm (both with full choir). The Minor
Canon (Precentor) arranges cover for him/herself when absent, and arranges for Residentiary Canons to sing the office on Saturdays and Sundays from time to time. working with the Master of the Music and Assistant Master of the Music in choosing hymns for all regular services and compiling the monthly music list, which shows the pattern of the regular services; preparing the monthly clergy duty rota; making arrangements for visiting choirs to cover holiday periods; ensuring that arrangements for special services run smoothly and efficiently, in conjunction with the Head Virger and Diary Secretary. This also includes the preparation of orders of service and arranging printing with the Cathedral office and external printers, and producing detailed running orders for services. Amongst the regular special events are the Advent Procession, Carols Services, Holy Week services, the Alban Pilgrimage, patronal services and Taizé-style services; liaison with outside bodies (e.g. schools and community groups) over occasional special services; attending service planning meetings and arranging rehearsals; pastoral responsibility for the boy and girl choristers (working with the Minor Canon Youth Chaplain), the lay clerks and choir families; attending choir trips and accompanying choir tours; acting as Chaplain to the Cathedral s Guild of Servers, attending their meetings and involvement in the recruitment and training of new servers; preparation of the lectionary, and training members of the congregation to read lessons and lead intercessions; checking the Sunday Service Sheet (in conjunction with the Sub Dean); liaison with the team of PA Operators and the Flower Guild. 4.2 As Minor Canon The Minor Canon (Precentor), together with the Canon Chancellor, and Minor Canon (Youth Chaplain) works with the Sub Dean (who acts as Parish Priest on behalf of the Dean) in the pastoral care of the cathedral congregations drawn from the city and beyond. The ability to work collaboratively in a team is therefore crucial. Weekly Monday staff meetings form a vital part of this aspect of the work. Along with the other clergy, he or she will have responsibility for a geographical area of the city, and is first call for pastoral offices for those members of the congregation living within it.
Support is available in this pastoral responsibility from two Lay Pastoral Assistants and a network of Abbey Neighbours drawn from within the congregation. Other responsibilities include: working with the Sub Dean and Minor Canon (Youth Chaplain) in preparing candidates for confirmation; an equal share with the other clergy in the leading of worship, preaching, and development of the Cathedral congregations; direct supervision of the Roots (two young adults exploring vocation) pastoral activities on Thursdays, shared with the Sub Dean who has oversight of the scheme; occasional involvement in the leading of worship for our Church Schools: Abbey Primary in the Lady Chapel on Thursday mornings, and at Townsend Secondary worship in school and at the Cathedral; membership of the Abbey Assembly, and full involvement in the discussion and planning of the life of the Cathedral Community; membership of the Pastoral, Diary Planning and Pilgrimage Committees; assisting the Canon Chancellor, along with the Minor Canon (Chaplain), with the preparations, promotion and running of the annual Alban Pilgrimage particular responsibility for supporting and nurturing the 20s & 30s Group.
2. BACKGROUND INFORMATION 1. St Albans Cathedral exists to glorify God and, inspired by the witness of Alban, proclaim Christ s message of love. Our Mission is to: be a community that reflects Jesus teaching; share the faith and grow in faith; deepen our unity with fellow Christians; stand with St Alban for truth and justice; offer a warm welcome to all; serve the Bishop and Diocese of St Albans as their Cathedral Church; and enhance, conserve and develop this holy place. In five years time we aim to have made St Alban and his shrine better known both nationally and internationally; to have achieved further growth in numbers and in depth of faith; to have better facilities for welcome and for teaching, and to have improved our strategies for nurturing children and retaining them in their teenage years. (Drawn from the Cathedral s Mission Action Plan, reviewed February 2015) 2. The Cathedral is the mother church of the Diocese of St Albans, serving the people of Hertfordshire, Bedfordshire, the Borough of Luton and parts of the London Borough of Barnet. St Albans is an ancient city and the cathedral is built on the site of the martyrdom of Saint Alban, Britain s first Christian martyr. It still houses the shrine of Saint Alban and continues to be a major site of Christian pilgrimage. The city of St Albans is today a thriving market town. It is very close to London but has kept a separate identity, and its sense of local community is still very strong. Its close proximity to the M1, A1(M) and M25 motorways, airports at Luton, Heathrow and Stansted and a fast train link into London St Pancras (c.20 minutes) have made it a very desirable place to live. The cathedral has strong links with the local authority and other churches. Sumpter Yard is close to the main shopping centre and Verulamium Park. Schools are many, varied in type and of high quality. 3. The Benedictine monastery (founded in 793) was dissolved in 1539 and became the parish church, which it remains today. It became a cathedral in 1877 and it is in this dual role of parish and cathedral church that it is a centre of worship and mission with a high local and national profile. There is a large and active congregation. 4. The Cathedral stands in the Anglican Catholic tradition, but members of its congregations are drawn from a variety of backgrounds. The musical tradition at St Albans is renowned throughout the world, and in addition to singing the services the two Cathedral choirs (lay clerks with boys and girls choirs) have a schedule of concerts, recordings, radio broadcasts and international tours. The Cathedral hosts the biennial International Organ Festival, the most prestigious organ competition in Europe. There is also an award-winning Education Centre, and ecumenical links are strong with honorary chaplains from the Roman Catholic, Free Church, Lutheran and Russian Orthodox traditions regularly conducting services at the cathedral for their congregations.
5. The work of the cathedral is sustained by over 50 full and part-time staff and some 1,000 volunteers. The cathedral is also supported by a number of independent trusts and bodies. Some are concerned only with raising funds for a particular aspect of the cathedral s life; others finance and manage functions in support of the cathedral s mission. 6. The Cathedral is an active parish church and community. It is a place of prayer and pilgrimage, an important centre for visitors and a significant gathering point for people who work and live in the area. Although about one third of English cathedrals are also parish churches, the unique feature of St Albans is its large electoral roll (1400 adults, plus perhaps 250 under-16s) and the attending congregation is also large, as well as skilled and committed. There are choirs and musical ensembles for all ages and at all levels in the parish, as well as those who sing the daily choral services. The Cathedral is a happy place to live and work. 7. Following a successful bid with the Heritage Lottery Fund, the Cathedral launched Alban, Britain s First Saint in February 2015 - a major project, including an extensive programme of building and development to enhance the Cathedral s ministry of welcome and education, not only for current audiences but to attract new people and to raise the national profile and prominence of the Cathedral. Further information on the Cathedral s vision for the future and information on all aspects of cathedral life can be found at www.stalbanscathedral.org 8. In August 2015 The Revd Paul Arbuthnot is leaving to become Minor Canon and Sacrist at Westminster Abbey. The Dean & Chapter wish to appoint a Minor Canon (Precentor) to join the clergy team in the Autumn of 2015. The Revd Canon Richard Watson Sub Dean June 2015