Dean's Forum & Guest Preacher Michael Hampel
October 17, 2016
Sunday, October 23, 10:00 a.m.
Canon Precentor, St. Paul's Cathedral London
"Celebrating the Life of a Monarch: Reflections from St. Paul's Cathedral"
We welcome The Rev. Canon Michael Hampel, Canon Precentor at St. Paul's Cathedral London, as our guest preacher and Dean's Forum presenter on Sunday, October 23. His topic for the Dean's Forum is "Celebrating the Life of a Monarch: Reflections from St. Paul's Cathedral."
Michael Hampel was born in the Lake District in 1967 and brought up in Stratford-upon-Avon, where he was educated at Shakespeare’s school and developed a passion for theatre and music. He read Classics at Durham and trained at Cambridge for ordination. He returned to Durham in 1993 as Assistant Curate of Whitworth with St. Paul Spennymoor, and then Minor Canon, Precentor and Sacrist of Durham Cathedral. In 2002, he was appointed Senior Tutor and Director of Development of St. Chad’s College, Durham.
Michael returned to the cathedral world when he became Precentor of St. Edmundsbury Cathedral in Suffolk in 2004, Sub-Dean in 2008, and Acting Dean in 2009. In November 2010, HM The Queen approved his nomination as Precentor of St. Paul’s Cathedral in London. He took up his post in 2011 and, during his time there, has been involved in the staging of the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Service, the Opening Service of the London 2012 Paralympic Games, Lady Thatcher’s Funeral, and the Queen’s 90th birthday service. He wrote the words for the anthem commissioned for the Diamond Jubilee Service – ‘The Call of Wisdom’ – set to music by Will Todd and sung by The Diamond Choir made up of children from every part of the UK, together with the Choristers of St. Paul’s and of the Chapel Royal. In his spare time, he buys and sells antique furniture.