​Stonyhurst St Mary's Hall announces appointment of a new Headmaster

The Governors of Stonyhurst are delighted to announce the appointment of a new Headmaster for Stonyhurst St Mary’s Hall.

We are pleased to welcome Fr Christopher Cann, currently Headmaster of Ratcliffe College Preparatory School in Leicestershire and previously Headmaster of Leicester Preparatory School and Denstone College Preparatory School. He has a Master of Arts degree in French from the University of St Andrews and in Theology from the University of Oxford. He is married to Honor, who works as a GP, and has six children and two grandchildren.

Fr Christopher is a former Anglican priest who was received into the Catholic church in 2011 and is now a priest of the Ordinariate of Our Lady of Walsingham. Fr Christopher joins us on 1st September 2022 providing a seamless transition following the stepping down of Ian Murphy at the end of the academic year after eight extremely successful years as Headmaster.

"I feel very honoured to be appointed as the next Headmaster of Stonyhurst St Mary's Hall. I very much look forward to getting to know all the SMH children, parents and staff and to working closely, under the guidance of the Governing Body, with John Browne, Head of Stonyhurst, to build on the tremendous success the school has enjoyed in recent years."

John Browne, Head of Stonyhurst, said: “I am delighted to welcome Fr Christopher Cann and his wife Honor to St Mary’s Hall and the Stonyhurst family. He brings a wealth of knowledge and a deep experience of education and spirituality to Stonyhurst as well as a background in all areas of school leadership, including eight years as Headmaster of Ratcliffe College Preparatory School immediately prior to joining us.”

Mr Browne added: “I should like to thank Ian Murphy for his contribution to Stonyhurst, he has played a hugely significant role in leading the St Mary’s Hall community since 2014, and particularly in meeting the challenges of the pandemic in recent times. Ian has fostered a culture that ensures that St Mary’s Hall is a joyful place for young people to flourish.”