Ian Christopher Black (born 1962) is a British

Anglican Anglicanism is a Western Christian tradition that has developed from the practices, liturgy, and identity of the Church of England following the English Reformation, in the context of the Protestant Reformation in Europe. It is one of th ...

priest who has served as Dean of Newport since 2021. Black was born and grew up in Stratford-upon-Avon and was head chorister at Holy Trinity Church (Shakespeare's church). Educated at

Kineton High School Kineton High School is a mixed secondary school located in South Warwickshire, England within the village of Kineton. It is a non-selective academy school with a sixth form. History Prior to the school's construction, the village school had m ...

and Binswood Hall (North Leamington School), he went on to study at Christ Church College, Canterbury, then affiliated to the

University of Kent , motto_lang = , mottoeng = Literal translation: 'Whom to serve is to reign'(Book of Common Prayer translation: 'whose service is perfect freedom')Graham Martin, ''From Vision to Reality: the Making of the University of Kent at Canterbury'' ...

. After a career in tax, both with the Inland Revenue and a firm of chartered accountants, he trained for ordination at

Lincoln Theological College Lincoln Theological College was a theological college in Lincoln, United Kingdom. History Founded by Edward White Benson, when he was Chancellor of Lincoln Cathedral, the college opened on 25 January 1874. It was also known as ''Scholae Cancella ...

, studying for a Master of Divinity degree at the

University of Nottingham The University of Nottingham is a public university, public research university in Nottingham, United Kingdom. It was founded as University College Nottingham in 1881, and was granted a royal charter in 1948. The University of Nottingham belongs t ...

. Black was ordained deacon at Canterbury Cathedral in 1993 and priest in 1994. Black served his title at

All Saints Church, Maidstone All Saints is a parish church in Maidstone, Kent. It is a Grade I listed building, and has been described as the grandest Perpendicular style church in Kent. Establishment and dissolution Founded by Archbishop of Canterbury William Courtenay i ...

(1993–96). After this he was priest in charge of Brents and

Davington Davington is a suburb of Faversham in Kent, England. Davington Priory is a local government ward within the Faversham Town Council and Swale Borough Council areas. Until the civic boundary changes were brought into effect in 2004, the electora ...

with Oare and Luddenham (1996–2002), during which time he was also a minor canon of

Canterbury Cathedral Canterbury Cathedral in Canterbury, Kent, is one of the oldest and most famous Christian structures in England. It forms part of a World Heritage Site. It is the cathedral of the Archbishop of Canterbury, currently Justin Welby, leader of the ...

and assistant director of post ordination training. He moved north to become vicar of St Mary's Church, Whitkirk (2002–12) and capitular canon of

Ripon Cathedral The Cathedral Church of St Peter and St Wilfrid, commonly known as Ripon Cathedral, and until 1836 known as Ripon Minster, is a cathedral in Ripon, North Yorkshire, England. Founded as a monastery by monks of the Irish tradition in the 660s, i ...

(2008–12). After that he was vicar of

St John the Baptist Church, Peterborough St John the Baptist Church is a Grade I listed Church of England parish church in the city of Peterborough, now Cambridgeshire, England. Location The present St John the Baptist Church is situated in Cathedral Square and is only a few minutes w ...

(2012–21) and a residentiary canon of

Peterborough Cathedral Peterborough Cathedral, properly the Cathedral Church of St Peter, St Paul and St Andrew – also known as Saint Peter's Cathedral in the United Kingdom – is the seat of the Church of England, Anglican Bishop of Peterborough, dedicated to Sain ...

(2012–21), serving also as Rural Dean of Peterborough for five years. He was appointed as Dean of Newport and installed on 22 May 2021. Black is a spiritual writer and director. His publications include three books of prayers: ''Prayers for all occasions'' (SPCK 2011), ''Intercessions for Years A, B & C'' (SPCK 2009) and ''Intercessions for the Calendar of Saints and Holy Days'' (SPCK 2005). His most recent book, ''Follow me: living the sayings of Jesus'', was published by Sacristy Press in 2017 and he has written a hymn, "Christ the Saviour", based on this.

References

Deans of Monmouth Alumni of the University of Kent Alumni of the University of Nottingham Alumni of Lincoln Theological College 1962 births Living people {{UK-Anglican-clergy-stub