Berkeley Divinity School at Yale is grieved to share news of the death of Robert Willis ’09 DDHon, Dean Emeritus of Canterbury, who died suddenly and peacefully while a resident fellow at Berkeley earlier this week.
We share this message from his partner Fletcher Banner at his request:
“It is with great sadness that I have to tell you all of Dean Robert’s passing. After a brief illness whilst at Yale in America, Robert suffered heart failure and died last night.
Robert was a man of great faith and intellect whose greatest joy was to share his life with others. This has been particularly so since we left Canterbury and have been welcomed elsewhere all over the world.
Robert has been my partner in life and ministry for more than twenty wonderful years. Like me I am sure you will carry his memory in your hearts.
Details of the funeral, which will take place in New Haven to follow and of a memorial service next year at Salisbury Cathedral.”
Dean Robert was preacher at Berkeley’s Convocation Eucharist last October 9th, during which the Berkeley Center renewal was celebrated. He had been a beloved host to pilgrims from BDS while Dean of Canterbury for well over a decade, and he received the honorary degree of doctor of divinity in 2009.
Robert Willis was Dean of Canterbury 2001–2022 after being Dean of Hereford 1992–2000. Educated at the University of Warwick and then at Oxford, he ministered in Shrewsbury, Salisbury, Tisbury and at Sherborne Abbey before his leadership of those two English Cathedrals. He was also a noted hymn writer, and became globally prominent during the COVID-19 pandemic during which his Morning Prayer services on YouTube(link is external), accompanied by beautiful gardens and curious cats, became known to many thousands.
The Dean, students, faculty, staff, and trustees of Berkeley give profound thanks for Dean Robert’s long and faithful ministry and offer our deep condolences to Fletcher, as well as to all who knew and loved Robert. May he rest in peace, and rise in glory.
