Rev D.W. Allen
1925-1991

Series: D.W. Allen (1925-1991)

Full name: Derek William Allen.
Deacon 1952; priest 1953;

The Reverend Derek William Allen (1925–1991) was a prominent Anglican priest and liturgical scholar, best known for his tenure as Principal of St Stephen’s House, Oxford, from 1962 to 1974. His leadership during this period was marked by a commitment to traditional Anglo-Catholic practices and a rigorous approach to theological education.

Following the retirement of Canon Arthur Couratin, Allen assumed the role of Principal in 1962. He was instrumental in maintaining the seminary’s reputation for producing clergy well-versed in the liturgical traditions of the Church, particularly those outlined in the works of Adrian Fortescue and the Roman Catholic liturgical scholar, Joseph A. Jungmann. Under his guidance, St Stephen’s House continued to emphasize the importance of liturgical precision and theological depth. A contemporary of Allen noted that a graduate from St Stephen’s House during his tenure would be expected to perform liturgical duties with a high degree of competence and reverence.

Allen’s tenure at St Stephen’s House concluded in 1974. While specific details about his life and career after this period are limited, his influence on Anglican liturgical education during the 1960s and early 1970s remains noteworthy.

His legacy is preserved in the traditions of St Stephen’s House, which continues to be a center for Anglican theological education, upholding the values of liturgical excellence and theological scholarship that Allen championed.

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Documents authored by Rev D.W. Allen