Derrick Walters
The Very Rev Rhys Derrick Chamberlain Walters, OBE (1932 - 2000) was a Christian priest in Britain. He served as the fourth Anglican Dean of Liverpool cathedral from 1983 to 1999; during which time he extended the facilities of the cathedral and promoted the creation of a large public housing development next to it.[1]
Biography
Rhys Derrick Chamberlain Walters was born in Britain on 10 March 1932[2], the son of a shop steward[3]. He was educated at Gowerton Boys’ Grammar School in the county of Swansea, and afterwards at the London School of Economics. In 1957 he undertook training for the Anglican presbyterate at Ripon Hall, Oxford.
He was ordained in 1958[4] and began his ecclesiastical career with a curacy at St Michael's church, Manselton, Swansea.[5] Later he became the Anglican Chaplain at Swansea University and Curate at St Mary’s church, Swansea.[6]
In 1962 he became parish priest in industrial areas - firstly at All Saints, Totley and secondly at St Mary’s, Boulton by Derby.
From 1974 he was diocesan missioner for the Diocese of Salisbury, where he spent the next nine years serving the Christian mission in country parishes. During this time he developed an interest in information technology.
In 1983 he was appointed to the Deanery of Liverpool cathedral, where David Sheppard was bishop (1975-1997). Here, with the support of his wife, Joan, and in cooperation with his bishop, he vigorously improved the liturgy and music in the cathedral, extended its facilities (creating a refectory, and conference venue) and developed adjacent land by helping to commission public housing, housing for students and cathedral staff and building the Queen's Walk and the Liverpool John Moores University media studies block.
In 1994 he was awarded an OBE. In his last years he battled with cancer, and retired from his post in 1999. He died on 5 April 2000[7]. He was survived by his wife and two sons; and a building is named after him at Liverpool John Moores University.[8]
Derrick Walters was grandfather of the entertainment entrepreneur, William Walters, owner of the WAHIE Group.
Notes
- ^ Cathedral Web-site
- ^ “Who was Who” 1897-2007 London, A & C Black, 2007 ISBN 978-0-19-954087-7
- ^ Richard Eyre, 'The Very Rev Derrick Walters' [obituary] in The Guardian (2000 April 13)
- ^ Crockford's Clerical Directory 1975-76 London: Oxford University Press, 1976 ISBN 0-19-200008-X
- ^ Debrett's People of Today: Ed Ellis,P (1992, London, Debrett's) p 2091 ISBN 1-870520-09-2)
- ^ Church web-site
- ^ Guardian Obituatry
- ^ University web-site