Frederick William Dwelly | |
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Dean of Liverpool | |
Church | Church of England |
Appointed | 1931 |
Orders | |
Ordination | 1907 |
Personal details | |
Born | |
Died | 9 May 1957 Liverpool, UK | (aged 76)
Education | Chard Endowed School and Queens' College, Cambridge |
Frederick William Dwelly (9 April 1881 – 9 May 1957) was the first Dean of Liverpool.
From a modest family background, Dwelly worked as a shop assistant in London before the vicar of the church he attended there spotted his potential, and arranged sponsorship for the young Dwelly to study at Queens' College, Cambridge. After graduation, he became an Anglican priest. In 1916 he took over a parish in the Diocese of Liverpool, and was appointed to devise the form of service for the consecration of the new Liverpool Cathedral in 1924. When the cathedral was sufficiently established to need a dean to run it, Dwelly was appointed to the position, taking office in 1931.
At Liverpool Dwelly was responsible for devising fresh forms of service, refreshing the liturgy. He was consulted by the authorities of other cathedrals including Canterbury to advise on the forms of worship for special services. His willingness to innovate led to controversy in 1934, when he permitted a Unitarian to deliver a sermon in the cathedral; many felt that it was improper to allow non-Anglicans to preach in an Anglican church.
Dwelly's liturgical and other legacies to Liverpool Cathedral are commemorated in a life-size carving of him on the memorial to him in the cathedral, unveiled in 1960, five years after his death.