John Storrs

Who was John Storrs?

John Storrs was an Anglican priest at the end of the 19th century and the first decades of the 20th century.

Storrs was born in Novia Scotia, Canada, as the eldest son of the Revd John Storrs of Wolfville, Nova Scotia. He was educated in England at The King's School, Rochester, matriculating in 1865 and going up to Pembroke College, Cambridge. He obtained his BA in 1869, his MA in 1873 and received a DD in 1913.

Storrs was ordained deacon in 1871 and a priest in 1873. He was a curate at St Mary’s Bury St Edmunds. and then at St Peter's Eaton Square, London. From 1880 he was the vicar of St James’ Bury St Edmunds and, from 1883, at St Peter’s Eaton Square before becoming the Dean of Rochester in 1913. Whilst at St Peter's he served as the rural dean from 1891 to 1902, then was the Rural Dean of Westminster from 1902 until his move to Rochester. In 1912 and 1913 he was an honorary chaplain to King George V.

Storrs was responsible for various projects in the cathedral, notably the recasting of the bells in 1921 and the restoration of the Gundulf Tower.

Storrs married Lucy Anna Maria Cockayne-Cust in 1881.