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Faculty of Divinity

 
Dr Andrew Davison made Canon Philosopher
Our Starbridge Lecturer in Theology and Natural Sciences, Dr Andrew Davison, has recently been made a canon of St Albans cathedral.
Such appointments are an opportunity for the church to recognise the contribution that someone – usually a clergyman or woman, but not always – has made to its life. Andrew’s appointment is to a new position, that of the ‘canon philosopher’ of the cathedral and diocese. As far as we know, he is the first person ever to hold such a position anywhere in the Church of England. His task in this role is to help the diocese to become more familiar with the wealth of the Christian philosophical tradition.
Andrew is the author of The Love of Wisdom: An Introduction to Philosophy for Theologians. The bishop, The Rt Revd Dr Alan Smith, said that he hoped that the canonry would contribute to an ‘increased confidence’ in the intellectual tradition of Christianity and the ability of Anglicans in the diocese to take place in discussions ‘in the public square’. As a parallel appointment, The Revd Professor David Wilkinson, the Principal of St John’s College, Durham, has been appointed as the canon scientist.