Archdeacon of Cambridge

The Ven John Beer

The Venerable John Beer became Archdeacon of Cambridge in July 2006 when the Church Commisioners approved the re-naming of the southern archdeaconry in the Diocese from Ely. He was appointed Archdeacon of Ely in 2005.

He has responsibility for the care of the clergy and church communities in the south and east of the diocese. He is also occupied in practical and legal matters such as parish boundaries, diocesan finance, clergy housing, reordering of church interiors.

John has served in the Diocese of Ely for most of his ordained ministry. He was appointed Archdeacon of Huntingdon in 1997 and Archdeacon of Wisbech in 2003.

He was born in March 1944. He was educated at Roundhay School, Leeds, and then, from 1962-65, at Pembroke College, Oxford where he read Theology.

After some years working in advertising and finance at Rowntrees, York (now Nestlé), John moved to Cambridge in 1969 to train for ordination at Westcott House Theological College. He was ordained deacon in 1971 and priest in 1972 as Curate of St John the Baptist Church, Knaresborough, and in 1974 moved back to Cambridge to become Chaplain of Fitzwilliam College and New Hall. He was made a Fellow of Fitzwilliam College in 1977 and a Bye Fellow in 2001.

In 1980, John Beer was appointed to a group of parishes, Toft with Caldecote and Childerley, and Hardwick, which lie to the west of Cambridge. After seven years there, he moved to Grantchester where he was Vicar and also Director of Ordinands and Post Ordination Training and Director of Studies for Readers. It was at this time that he was made a Canon of Ely Cathedral (1989).

John Beer is married to Susan who works as a freelance editor. They have three adult children. The two boys were choristers at St John’s College, Cambridge.

John enjoys keeping fit and sport of various kinds – tennis, golf, cricket.

You can contact John Beer by

Email:

Telephone: 01223 350424

Post:
The Venerable John Beer
St Botolph's Rectory
1a Summerfield
Cambridge
CB3 9HE

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