School Chaplain Father Steve Retires
After a decade as School Chaplain at Colfe’s, Father Steve, Vicar of St Mary’s Lewisham, has announced his retirement in October.
Colfe’s is fortunate to have had a chaplain who has promoted important school values of learning, kindness, and community for so long, and is indebted to him for the huge amount of time he has dedicated to so many aspects of school life – including assemblies, pastoral support, and church services.
Headmaster Richard Russell says: “We shall miss Father Steve enormously. He has been a constant presence in Colfe’s over the last decade, offering pastoral and spiritual support when we have most needed it. He richly deserves the rest and freedom that retirement will bring and I know that he will enjoy both- I hope for many years hence.”
Father Steve is to be thanked too for his work more generally in Lewisham over the past twelve years and Colfe’s wishes him a happy and restful retirement. Below is a message from Father Steve himself:
I arrived as Vicar of St Mary’s Lewisham, Revd Abraham Colfe’s own church, in December 2012, just in time to join you for your annual Carol Service in St Mary’s. It was a joy and a pleasure to discover the historic link between our church and Colfe’s School.
In 2014 the Headmaster invited me to become Chaplain to the School, which was approved by Bishop Michael Ipgrave. As I approach my retirement in October this year, it marks 12 years at St Mary’s and 10 years as School Chaplain – and 40 years since I was first ordained a priest in 1984.
I’ve loved my time here at St Mary’s and the wider community of Lewisham, with all its diversity, energy and challenges. And I’ve greatly valued my time with you all at Colfe’s School.
The Head will remember that I had some concerns about working in a fee-paying and therefore private school, alongside my other duties at the many state schools here, including St Mary’s School, the Prendergast Federation of Schools and Trinity School. Over these years I’ve come to recognise and celebrate the values we share, across all our schools, to offer the highest education and the best opportunities to all the children and young people in Lewisham and this part of southeast London.
Along with the annual Carol Service and the Colfe Sermon, both in St Mary’s church, one highlight each year for me has been the invitation to join Year 10 RE and Philosophy students at the end of the summer term for an Open Question session. This was always fun and challenging, once the pupils realised they really could ask me any question about faith, morality, the existence – or not – of God, the meaning of life, and more.
And I’ve loved joining you for regular assemblies each term, raising social and ethical issues, I hope with moments of humour too. During Covid lockdowns, I discovered the possibility of online assemblies through Zoom and even a virtual Colfe Sermon in 2020.
There have also been many pastoral contacts for both pupils and staff, both in joyful and in sad circumstances. I greatly respect the priority the School gives to pastoral care and am grateful for how I have worked with staff on this.
I’ll take this chance to thank the Head, senior leaders and all the staff, along with the pupils and their families, for a wonderful 10 years as your School Chaplain at Colfe’s. I hope we’ve all learned and grown together though this time. My wife and I now prepare to retire and move to Liverpool, but I hope to be invited back to Colfe’s from time to time.
I wish everyone God’s blessing for the months ahead as we all face the changes, challenges and opportunities that will come our way.
With my love and prayers.
Fr Steve Hall
Vicar of St Mary’s church and Chaplain at Colfe’s School.
