Bishop of London installs new Archdeacon of London in St Paul’s Cathedral ceremony

Photo Credit: Tim Meara

28/07/09

The Venerable David Meara was officially installed as Archdeacon of London in a Choral Evensong ceremony at St Paul’s Cathedral on Sunday.

The Bishop of London, Dr Richard Chartres, presided over the ceremony - leading prayers and welcoming the new Archdeacon to his post.

The post of Archdeacon of London is one of the oldest in the Diocese with particular responsibility for the finances and administration of churches in the City of London Deanery.

As Archdeacon of London David Meara will play a crucial role in the City - reaching out to the 350,000 people who come into London to work every day and raising the profile of City churches. He plans to extend the vibrant culture of church services and events already on offer in the Capital and to establish a City Churches Festival to celebrate faith in the City.

The new Archdeacon of London, David Meara said:

"At a time of creeping secularisation and worldwide recession, our challenge is to renew our confidence in the spiritual energy we can bring to the City of London. I want our Churches to be places where the Gospel message is shared and where local communities, both business and residential, feel welcomed and affirmed.

"I look forward to the friendship and partnership of the Bishop of London, the Area Dean, the City Corporation, my fellow clergy and laity within the City; and seek to be an enabler and an encourager amongst them."

The Venerable David Meara

David Meara was born in Oxford, as one of a pair of identical twins. He was Ordained in 1973, and in the same year married Rosemary who now works in ceramics and teaches art at Plashet School in East Ham.

David Meara will remain Rector of St Bride’s Fleet Street where plans have been made to diminish his workload and to provide the extra support which will make it possible for him to assume his new responsibilities. The Archidiaconal Office will continue to be at The Old Deanery.

Before coming to St Bride’s in 2000 David spent all his previous ministry within the Oxford Diocese, twice serving as an Area Dean, and being made an Honorary Canon of Christ Church Cathedral, Oxford in 1997. Rosemary and he have four children; Rebecca, who teaches dance and drama, Timothy a freelance film director, Joseph, a physiotherapist, and Susannah a paediatric nurse.

David has had a lifelong interest in church architecture and monumental brasses, and has written extensively on the subject, including three books on Victorian and Modern Brasses. His latest book was published in December 2008.

He was elected a Fellow of the Society of Antiquaries in 1994 and since 2002 has been President of the Monumental Brass Society. Both Rosemary and David have a strong interest in the arts, especially painting and sculpture, ballet and opera.