Embargoed until Sunday 15 November 2009
NEW VICE DEAN APPOINTED
An Essex priest who has worked for the last thirteen years as full time Chaplain of Anglia Ruskin University (Chelmsford campus) has today been appointed as Vice Dean of Chelmsford Cathedral. He is the Revd Canon Ivor Robert Moody, 52, who is also an Honorary Associate Chaplain of the Cathedral.
Announcing the appointment made by Her Majesty The Queen on 5th November, the Dean, the Very Revd Peter Judd, said " Canon Moody will take over from the Revd Canon Walter King who is retiring on 6th'January 2010." A date for Canon Moody's installation has yet to be arranged. He was appointed an Honorary Canon at the Cathedral earlier this year.
Canon Moody is married to Ruth. They first met at London University as students. They have four children: Eleanor who works for PALS (Personal Assistants for Life Skills); Sam, a medical student at the University of Manchester and William and Thomas who are students at Boswell's School, Chelmsford. All three sons are altar servers at the Cathedral. Canon Moody was Vicar of St John the Baptist, Tilbury Docks, before coming to Chelmsford as the full-time Chaplain to the University in 1996, where Ruth also works as campus nurse. His family belong to the Cathedral congregation and Ruth has been involved in the Cathedral's children's work for many years.
During the past few years, Canon Moody has taken parties of students and teaching staff to Croatia in June to support disabled children in hospitals and to carry out maintenance, an experience that has changed the lives of many students and staff.
Canon Moody says: "It will be a big wrench leaving the university after so many happy years, but I am looking forward to the fresh challenge of being Vice Dean and Canon Pastor of Chelmsford Cathedral, and we are grateful too, to continue to be among so many friends."
ENDS
NOTE : Canon Moody is available for interview on 0845 196 7722 or by e-mail on ivor.moody@anglia.ac.uk He will also supply a portrait photograph on request. A family photograph will be available on Monday from Tony Allen. The Cathedral is the Mother Church of the Diocese of Chelmsford covering 612 churches in Essex and five East London boroughs. Canon Walter and Pamela King's final service will be on Jan 6th at 7.45pm.
FROM: Tony Allen, Hon PRO on 01245 263477