Cuthbert Johnson

Who is Cuthbert Johnson?

Cuthbert Johnson is a British musician, liturgist and former Benedictine abbot. He was the fourth Abbot of Quarr Abbey, he was born in County Durham, England. After studying with the Christian Brothers and the White Fathers, he entered Quarr Abbey on the Isle of Wight and made monastic profession there on 8 September 1966. He was ordained a priest in 1973.

In 1975 he was sent for further studies at the Pontifical Liturgical Institute in Rome, as a result of which he gained a doctorate in Sacred Liturgy. In the years of his studies he also pursued the theory and practice of sacred music, in particular of Gregorian chant making frequent visits to the Abbey of Solesmes. After several years further service in his monastery, he was called to Rome as an Official of the Congregation for Divine Worship in 1983 and became section head there in 1994. Upon the sudden death of the then Abbot of Quarr, Dom Leo Avery, Dom Cuthbert was elected to succeed him in August 1996.

After twelve years as Abbotm he retired as abbot in March 2008. At the time of his retirement Abbot Cuthbert stated, "Quarr Abbey is now ready to pass through a new stage and to enter into a transitional period. After due reflection and prudent counsel the present moment seems an appropriate one in the history of the monastery to provide for new leadership. Therefore, I have decided to retire from the office of Abbot in which it has been my privilege to serve the monastic community of Quarr". He is a Consultor of the Congregation for Divine Worship and an Advisor to the Vox Clara Committee. He was elected President of the Henry Bradshaw Society in April 2007.