The Revd Canon William G. Cliff
Singing at Convocation 2007
Assisting the Archbishop of Moosonee
The Revd Canon William Cliff has served as Rector of The Collegiate Chapel of St. John the Evangelist, Huron University College since September 2002, and has been enjoying being the parish priest for Huron University College and the Anglican Community at UWO Fr. Bill came to Huron after having worked ten happy and successful years in parish ministry, serving congregations in Simcoe, Hanover, Durham, Strathroy and Adelaide, Ontario. Ordained a deacon and Priest in 1992, Bill earned a BA in Religious Studies and Music (King's College - Western 1989) and an MDiv from Huron College (1992) As well as an MA in Theology from UWO (2009). Fr. Bill is a pastor, musician and liturgist who has been working in the Diocese of Huron with young people for his whole ministry.
A member of the group "The Three Cantors", Fr. Bill is one of four musicians who travel the country raising money and awareness for development issues and the relief of world hunger. They have recorded 4 CD's and have raised close to a million dollars for these worthy causes around the world. In recognition of this achievement, Fr. Bill as well as the other musicians in the Three Cantors; Fr. David Pickett and Fr. Peter Wall and Mr. Angus Sinclair were made life members of the Primate's World Relief and Development Fund, the international development arm of the Anglican Church of Canada, in November 2001. In 2007, they were made Honorary Senior Fellows of Renison College at the University of Waterloo in recognition of this important work. This is Renison College's highest honour. The same year, the Three Cantors received Huron University College's Alumni Award of Distinction for their work in the community.
Fr. Bill has also been published nationally on a variety of subjects , but particularly in articles regarding his method of interpreting and opening scripture to young people, as well as having been a commentator for CBC NewsWorld and CanadaAM on religious stories. He has taught "Scripture and Story" at Ask and Imagine, the national program for Youth at Huron University College, has been a keynote speaker at several conferences on Stewardship, as well as holding an annual session with the Ask and Imagine attendees called "Bull with Bill": a session of no-hold-barred questions about faith, sex, commitment, scripture, theology and growing up a Christian in today's world.
Fr. Bill was appointed to the Ontario Human Right Commission in February 1997, and served as one of ten Human Rights Commissioners serving the Province of Ontario for three terms. This position allowed him to serve in a capacity to work on Human Rights Policy in Ontario as well as the application of the provisions of the Human Rights Code of the Province of Ontario.
Appointed to the Cathedral Chapter of Canons in 2003, Canon Cliff remains active in the Diocese and wider church through liturgy. Appointed Canon Precentor of the Diocese of Huron in 2009, Canon Cliff continues to work with music and liturgy to enrich the worship life of the Church and spends a great deal of time supporting youth programming. He is a Chaplain on the Order of St. Lazarus of Jerusalem, a Fellow of the National College of Music and the Arts (U.K.) and enjoys greatly his time spent with the students and faculty day by day around the college. His ministry interests include liturgy, preaching, work with youth and support or Diocese of Huron ministries such as Huron Church Camp. Outside of ministry, he enjoys singing, reading and the occasional bike ride.
The Revd Canon William G. Cliff
Huron University College
A104 - 1349 Western Rd.
London, ON
N6G 1H3
E-mail: wcliff@uwo.ca
Tel: (519) 438-7224 x294 Fax: (519) 438-3938
UCC Tel: (519) 661-2111 x85929
Open Office Hours at Huron: Every Day!
