08/10/2021
ANNOUNCEMENT OF RETIREMENT OF FR STEPHEN
Last Sunday Fr Stephen’s retirement as vicar of St John in the Wilderness Church was announced.
Fr Stephen writes:
As many will by now be aware, I shall sadly be taking early retirement on health grounds from the middle of December. It’s not how I imagined my nearly twenty years at St John in the Wilderness coming to an end, but – as they say – ‘it is what it is’; given the circumstances of my health I’ve been faced with little alternative.
So that everyone is completely ‘in the know’, the situation is that back in December 2019 I attended hospital as an outpatient in order to have a routine surgical procedure. I became ill shortly after, resulting in my emergency readmission a week later with severe sepsis. Although I was fortunate to have survived – thanks to Jane, my wife, insisting on calling an ambulance when she did – due to brain injury/neurological damage I have been left with a range of debilitating symptoms that together are referred to as post-sepsis syndrome.
I thought that if I could just keep going my condition would improve. But this has turned out not to be the case. The prognosis remains uncertain, but I’m told it’s clear that the illness will be long-term. It has been a life-altering experience, and one with which I’m still learning to come to terms.
I have spent two-thirds of my 30 years of ordained ministry at St John in the Wilderness and within the wider Parish, so the wrench will obviously be a considerable one. I shall greatly miss the people and the privilege of sharing in the joys, sorrows and glories of their lives, as well as our beautiful church which is so treasured by many.
I’m very sorry that there won’t – at least for the time-being – be opportunity for a proper goodbye. Given covid restrictions and the nature of my condition a farewell service is unfortunately not at present on the cards. However, it may be that there will be an occasion sometime next year when it will be possible.
In the meantime, I would like to thank everyone for their prayers and support during what has been a difficult time. And I want especially to thank my colleagues Fr Robert Charles and Fr Robert Sellers who have steered St John in the Wilderness through the past exceptionally unusual and challenging months.
Wishing everyone God’s richest blessings.
Fr Stephen
PS Given my retirement, I shall be stepping back from Facebook, so please don’t be surprised or offended if you find you’ve been ‘unfriended’. It is just part of the sad but necessary process of moving on.
