A FORMER Durham student has spoken of his continued ties to the city which have now seen him return to take up a senior clergy role at the cathedral.

The Reverend Canon David Hampel was recently appointed Vice Dean and Precentor in succession to the Reverend Canon Dr David Kennedy, who stood down after 17 years in the post, in late September, to become Vicar of Corbridge, in Northumberland.

It marks the latest return to Durham for The Rev Canon Hampel, who first came to the city as a student, at University College, within the nearby castle, in the mid-1980s.

He recalls an early visit to the cathedral, when he sat behind composer Sir John Taverner, who had written a piece for a special service to mark the 1,300th anniversary of the death of its patron, St Cuthbert, in March 1987.

Ten years later he was installed as Minor Canon and Precentor at the cathedral.

“It’s true to say that, as an undergraduate, I fell in love with Durham and Durham Cathedral, with its shrine of St Cuthbert became my spiritual home.”

Having spent a few years at Cambridge training for ordination, he was then ordained in Durham by legendary Bishop David Jenkins, with his first diocesan post as curate at St Paul’s Church, Spennymoor, before taking up the minor canon role at the cathedral.

A short move was then made as he became senior tutor at St Chad’s College, opposite the cathedral’s Rose Window, prior to becoming a residentiary canon and chapter member at St Edmundsbury Cathedral, in Bury St Edmunds, in Suffolk, where he was also Precentor.

He went on to undertake a similar role at St Paul’s Cathedral, in London, where he oversaw significant national occasions, including the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee and 90th birthday, Lady Thatcher’s funeral service and the Grenfell Tower memorial service.

But he said, “the draw of Durham never went away”, and he applied to be Vice Dean and Precentor of the cathedral, in July.

He was installed into the dual role, part of which involves planning the programme of worship at the cathedral, last month.

“After only a few weeks, I can seriously say that it feels as if I’ve never been away.

“We look to share everything Durham Cathedral has to offer to the people of the North-East and the wider world, not least through Pilgrimage 2020, when we hope ‘everyone’, will visit at some point in that year.”