After more than twenty-two years in the role of Precentor, the community of Hereford Cathedral will be bidding a fond farewell to The Revd Canon Andrew Piper this summer.
Canon Andrew joined the Chapter of Hereford Cathedral in March 2003, following almost twenty years of parish ministry in the Diocese of Chichester.
As Precentor he has championed musical and liturgical excellence in the cathedral and has been delighted by forward-looking developments like the inclusion of women and girls in the cathedral choir in 2022.
Andrew attributes the high standards of liturgy and music at Hereford to the exceptional teams of vergers and musicians, many of whom have also served at the cathedral for over two decades alongside him.
As well as his commitment to the music and liturgy of the cathedral, Andrew has also contributed significantly to the look and feel of the building through his vision and involvement in major fabric projects.
Two projects which carried special meaning for him were the installation of the SAS window and memorial Ascension, which was unveiled by HRH Prince William in 2017, and the 2025 re-siting of the cathedral’s baptismal font to a place of dignity near the cathedral’s principal door, emphasizing the importance of the sacrament of baptism. Both projects took many years of patient and persistent work, and each carries its own liturgical and spiritual significance.
The Very Revd Sarah Brown, Dean of Hereford, said:“Andrew is an extraordinary priest and colleague and a man of grace and integrity who has quietly given heart and soul to the Cathedral and its worship for almost twenty-three years. I am so grateful to have had him as an advisor and friend since I arrived a mere four years ago!
To say that we shall miss him is an understatement. His wisdom and good humour have often kept us on the straight and narrow and if you have been to any large service here in over twenty years you will have seen and appreciated his liturgical work. How do we replace the irreplaceable? Time will tell, but if you are someone who prays, please do pray for the right candidate to join us.”
The Revd Canon Andrew Piper said: “Twenty-two years in one post might seem like a long time, but I wouldn’t have wished to be anywhere else, and I shall leave Hereford full of thanksgiving for the opportunities of service that I have been afforded here: it is a great place in which to minister, as well as a warm and supportive community in which to live, and the cathedral liturgy is uplifting. Then there is the music, which is sublime, and the countryside, which is spectacular: leaving is going to be a wrench.”
Canon Andrew will be retiring to his home county of Somerset and will live in what his grandparents’ and his mother’s home: he is looking forward to spending time travelling and catching up with old friends as well as transforming his garden.
His final service in Hereford will be the 10 am Cathedral Eucharist on Sunday 14 September (Holy Cross Day), which will be followed by presentations in the cathedral nave.
For more details on attending this service or contributing to Andrew’s retirement collection please visit: www.herefordcathedral.org/news/canon-andrews-retirement
