Congratulations to Professor John Harper

Professor John Harper, organist at St Mary’s, received the degree of Doctor of Music from The Archbishop of Canterbury at Lambeth Palace on 9 November 2010. Such degrees are awarded by the Archbishop of Canterbury exercising his right granted by Act of Parliament in 1533 to award degrees on the basis of scholarship and learning.

The Archbishop states that this award 'is in recognition of Professor Harper’s distinguished contribution to the development and appreciation of church music as a scholar, administrator, teacher and composer, and to a greater understanding of the relationship between music and the liturgy of the church.'

Most of John’s working life has been dominated by church music in some way. During the 1970s he worked as Director of Music at St Chad’s Cathedral in Birmingham, receiving the Benemerenti award from Pope Paul VI for his services in 1978. As organist, fellow and tutor of Magdalen College, Oxford, from1981 to 1990, he directed the renowned college choir. He is also a composer. His works including a Jubilate written especially for the Queen’s visit to Bangor Cathedral for the Golden Jubilee celebration in Wales in 2002, and a bilingual setting of the Eucharist for the Church in Wales – Cymun y Cymru. Currently John is Research Professor in Christian Music and Liturgy at Bangor, and founder director of the International Centre for Sacred Music Studies. From 1998–2007 he served as Director General of the Royal School of Church Music where he took forward many other new initiatives in music, music education and publishing for churches and church musicians.

Most Sundays John plays the organ at St Mary’s and as a Church we would like to congratulate John on this very special recognition of his talents and particular like to thank him and Sally for all that they contribute to the life of this Church.