It is with great sadness that we recently learned of the death of The Very Rev'd Dr John Moses KCVO. John served as Provost of Chelmsford between 1982 and 1996.
The Very Rev'd Paul Kennington, interim Dean of Chelmsford said:
"John was a truly remarkable Provost of Chelmsford. It is through his vision and courage that we have the beautifully reordered Cathedral that we enjoy today as a place of colour, vibrancy but also tranquillity. He is remembered by many at the Cathedral as an inspirational leader and friend, and a man of great personal Christian faith. May he now rest in peace and rise in glory."
The Rt Rev'd Dr Guli Francis-Dehqani, Bishop of Chelmsford also paid tribute to John:
"John Moses was a great servant of Chelmsford Diocese; as Archdeacon of Southend between 1977 and 1982 and then as Provost of Chelmsford Cathedral until 1996 when he became Dean of St Paul’s Cathedral. I know there are people in our Diocese who were still in touch with him and will be very sorry to hear this news. I join them in praying for John’s family and friends and giving thanks for his life and ministry with us".
The Very Rev'd Dr John Moses KCVO was trained at Lincoln Theological College and ordained in 1964. He went on to serve first as Assistant Curate of St Andrew's, Bedford, then later as Rector of the Coventry East Team Ministry and as Rural Dean of Coventry East. In 1977 he was appointed Archdeacon of Southend, also serving as the Bishop of Chelmsford's Officer for Industry and Commerce, as Chairman of the Diocesan Retreat House and as Chairman of the Diocesan Advisory Committee.
In 1982 he became Provost of Chelmsford. He presided over significant developments in the re-ordering of the Cathedral, the building of the Chapter House, the construction of the new organ and the establishment of the choral foundation. In 1992 he was appointed the first Rector of Anglia Ruskin University and encouraged the development of links between the Cathedral and the university and wider community. He left Chelmsford in the autumn of 1996 to become Dean of St Paul's Cathedral and was appointed as KCVO by HM the Queen on retirement from St Paul's in 2006.