Profiles of Patrons

The Most Revd and Rt Hon Dr Rowan Williams, Archbishop of Canterbury, was born in Swansea in 1950 and was enthroned as the 104th Archbishop of Canterbury in Canterbury Cathedral in February 2003.

He became a patron of the Friends of Cathedral Music in the same year.

He was educated at Dynevor Secondary School and then at Christ's College, Cambridge, where he read theology.

After research in Oxford he spent two years as a lecturer at Mirfield Theological College near Leeds.

From 1976 he spent nine years in academic and parochial work in Cambridge.

From 1986 - 1992 Dr Williams was Professor of Theology at Oxford.

He was enthroned Bishop of Monmouth in 1992 and as Archbishop of Wales in 2000.

He is a Fellow of the British Academy and his interests include music, fiction and languages.

The Archbishop of Westminster, Cardinal Cormac Murphy-O'Connor, was born in Reading in 1932.

He was educated at Presentation College, Reading before boarding at Prior Park College, Bath for his secondary schooling.

He began training for the priesthood at the Venerable English College, Rome in 1950.  He was ordained a priest there in 1956.

In 1977 he was ordained Bishop of Arundel & Brighton.  In 2000 he was enthroned as Archbishop of Westminster and was created a Cardinal by Pope John Paul II in 2001.

He became a patron of the Friends of Cathedral Music in July 2003.

The Cardinal is an honorary bencher of the Inner Temple and was created a Freeman of the City of London. His hobbies and interests include music and sport.