Robert Willis (priest)

Robert Andrew Willis, KStJ DL (17 May 1947 – 22 October 2024) was an English Anglican priest, theologian, chaplain and hymn writer.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, after public worship was suspended, Willis received media attention for his popular daily video broadcasts of Morning Prayer from the deanery garden at Canterbury Cathedral.

[13] In response, Willis, filmed by his partner, Fletcher Banner, began to broadcast religious services from the deanery garden at Canterbury Cathedral.

His video recordings of the daily service of Morning Prayer have been watched by thousands of people around the world who dubbed themselves the "Garden Congregation".

[14] By the time the Dean retired in May 2022, he had produced well over 900 broadcasts and had cumulatively accrued millions of views on YouTube and other platforms worldwide, reaching many who needed a point of contact, spiritual or otherwise, in the dark days of the lockdowns.

The interweaving of all aspects of human history and creativity in arts, music, philosophy, literature into these services which were filmed all over the house and gardens from the pigsty to the roof, gained global appeal.

[21] Welby described Willis as "one of the most exceptional deans of the post-war period – overseeing Canterbury Cathedral’s life of worship, prayer and witness with creativity and imagination".

[22] The journalist Charles Moore, describing Willis as the last "great dean", wrote: "His voice was mellifluous, and he could preach in perfect sentences without need of notes, relating current events to a biblical text without strain, triviality or over-personalisation".

[30] An accomplished pianist and opera enthusiast, Willis served as an Honorary Patron of the Kent-based Caritas Chamber Choir.

[36][37][38] This was followed by an Evensong service in Willis's memory on 2 February 2025 (Candlemas) at Salisbury Cathedral in England,[39] with a sermon preached by the former Archbishop of Canterbury, Rowan Williams.

[42] In 2011 he was appointed a Deputy Lieutenant for the county of Kent,[5] and was awarded the Cross of St Augustine by the Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr Rowan Williams, in 2012.