Stephen Dean is a leading figure in contemporary English Catholic liturgical music, renowned as a composer, editor, publisher, and champion of accessible yet musically rich sacred choral works.

His compositions strike a balance between approachability for small parishes and adventurous harmony suitable for cathedrals. Spanning the liturgical year and sacraments, notable pieces include the Communion anthem “Water of Life” and the responsorial “Psalm 34: Taste and See,” alongside settings for Christmas, Palm Sunday, Holy Thursday, and Pentecost.

As editor of the influential Laudate hymnal (1999–present), still the most widely used Catholic hymnal in Britain, Dean has shaped parish repertoire across the country. Through his publishing house Decani Music, founded by him, he also serves as the UK agent for Oregon Catholic Press (OCP) and previously edited the periodicals The Liturgy Planner and Pastoral Patterns.

In 1969 he co-founded the St Thomas More Group, a pioneering collective of Catholic composers (including Christopher Walker, Bernadette Farrell, and Paul Inwood) dedicated to creating new music for the post-Vatican II English liturgy.

Dean’s practical experience includes serving as Director of Music at Arundel Cathedral (1979–1985), Music Advisor to the Diocese of East Anglia, and, to this day, parish organist in his local Suffolk church. His lifelong work continues to bridge tradition and renewal in Catholic worship.