New Canon Steward Appointed

Anthony Ball comes to Westminster Abbey after five years as Rector of Worth, Pound Hill and Maidenbower in West Sussex.

He will serve as Canon Steward and be installed on Saturday 10th September 2016 during Evensong at 3.00pm.

The Dean and the four Canons of Westminster comprise the Dean and Chapter, which exercises under the Crown governance and oversight of the Collegiate Church of St Peter, Westminster, known as Westminster Abbey, and leads its mission and ministry. The Canon Steward oversees the welcome of one and a half million visitors, worshippers and pilgrims each year and the Abbey's ministry of hospitality.

Canon Anthony Ball was born and lived for many years in Southern Africa and was educated in England. After studying at the University of Durham, he joined the Diplomatic Service. He had overseas postings in the Middle East and Spain during which time he was ordained as a priest. His last posting was in Damascus where, in addition to his work in the British Embassy and as the Anglican Chaplain, he was the Archbishop of Canterbury's representative to the Heads of the Orthodox Churches in Syria and Lebanon.

From there he moved to join Archbishop Rowan Williams' staff at Lambeth Palace where he variously held responsibility for advising on Anglican Communion, Ecumenical, Inter Religious and International Relations and served as the Archbishop's Chaplain.

He remains an honorary canon of the Anglican cathedrals in Cairo and Madrid and is married to Celia. They have a teenage son, David.

The Dean of Westminster, the Very Reverend Dr John Hall, said:

We look forward to welcoming Anthony Ball as a Canon of Westminster, where he will serve as Canon Steward. He brings interesting and relevant experience to the Dean and Chapter especially from his years in the Diplomatic Service and at Lambeth Palace. We trust that Anthony and Celia Ball and David will find the Abbey a welcoming and fascinating place for the next phase of a distinguished ministry.

Canon Ball said:

I feel tremendously privileged as well as a little daunted to have this opportunity to share in the ministry and mission of Westminster Abbey, with its global reach and central role in national life. It is an exciting time to be joining the Dean and Chapter and I am greatly looking forward to working with the whole Abbey community as it looks to exploit new facilities for worship, hospitality and education.