Dean of Llandaff

Born in Chesterfield, Derbyshire, the Very Rev’d Richard Peers trained and worked as a teacher before being ordained in 1993. He became the Sub Dean at Christ Church, Oxford in September 2020; a joint foundation of a University of Oxford college, and the Cathedral church of the Diocese of Oxford. Before moving to Oxford, Richard was Director of Education for the Diocese of Liverpool and CEO of Liverpool Diocesan Schools Trust. He has long exercised a combined ministry in education and as a priest.

Father Richard spent eight years as the head teacher of Trinity All Through School, Lewisham, in London, and has served in parishes in the Dioceses of York, Portsmouth, Lichfield and Southwark. In addition, he was a founder and first Superior of the Sodality of Mary, Mother of Priests, a dispersed community of Anglican priests with members around the world. He has advised other new, emerging expressions of community life in the church.

He has extensive experience as a Spiritual Director, retreat giver and leader of pilgrimages many in Wales. He has been practising meditation, now commonly known as mindfulness, for the whole of his adult life. He is much influenced by Julian of Norwich, Thomas Merton, and the Russian Philokalia.

Father Richard has been the Dean of Llandaff since November 2022 and lives with his partner Jim, a garden writer, and their dog Teilo. Gardens and garden design are a significant part of their life together.