St Stephen’s Church – South Dulwich

Vicar: Revd Bernhard Schunemann

Bernhard Schünemann was born in Göttingen in Germany.  He came to England for family reasons when he was aged 15.  Prior to his ordination Bernhard studied music and theology in London and Oxford.  He worked as a ‘Cello teacher, parliamentary research assistant and as a nurse in a South London hospice.  As a priest Bernhard was curate in the parish of Kirkby in Liverpool and a clergy staff member at St Martin-in-the-Fields in London.  For ten years Bernhard was Vicar of Littlemore (in the city of Oxford) during which time he commissioned a new Choral work by Arvo Pärt (the Littlemore Tractus) to commemorate the 200th anniversary of the birth of Newman.  Bernhard also taught RE at the European School (Culham) and at the Iqra Muslim School for girls in Littlemore.  Bernhard’s vocation to the priesthood was formed through the influence of living in the Rectory of St Anne’s in Soho (London) for ten years.  It was here, helping at Centrepoint, which was in the same building, and being part of a small, seemingly insignificant, congregation that Bernhard experienced the power of God at work through the unlikeliest channels.  Bernhard is married to the Estonian artist Elo Allik and together they have three children Mark, Peter and Helen.  Bernhard has published some short articles on spirituality and is an occasionally contributor to ‘pause for thought’ on the BBC World Service.

Curate: Revd Nick Davies

Nick Davies was born and raised in Surrey. He studied Biblical Studies at the University of Sheffield and Systematic Theology at the University of Edinburgh. Since graduating in 1989, he has held various communications and fundraising roles in the voluntary sector working for Christian Aid, Save the Children, and most recently was Communications and Fundraising Director of the Shaftesbury Society. In 2001 he was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts.

Through his work Nick has travelled in Latin America, Pakistan and worked for nine months with Rwandan refugees in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. He has also been interviewed by CNN and BBC Radio 4, as well as regional TV and Radio.

Nick is a keen documentary photographer and occasionally exhibits and sells his work. Examples of his work can be seen at www.nickduffdavies.com. He trained for the priesthood at Westcott House in Cambridge where he studied Pastoral Theology and wrote his dissertation on, “Light, image and truth; theology through a viewfinder”.

He is married to Helen and has a Springer Spaniel called Oscar. His hobbies include travel, hill walking and occasional fire-eating. Nick says, “my belief in a loving God has been a guiding light in my career. I hope that these past experience will be useful as I discover how to serve God in a new way, here in the parish.”

Assistant priest: Revd Hazel Kimbert

 

The Revd Hazel Kimber is one of the Honorary Assistant Priests at St Stephen’s.  She trained on the Southwark Local Non-Stipendiary Scheme.  She was ordained deacon in 1995 and priested in 1996.  Hazel lives and works pastorally on the Kingswood Estate, where she is also involved in the work of KETRA, the Kingswood Tenants and Residents Association.

Assistant priest: Revd Peter Westwood

Peter Westwood came to live in St Stephens twenty years ago.  He was the Chaplain first at H M P Brixton then at Wormwood Scrubs. After retiring from the Prison chaplaincy the Bishop of Southwark gave him permission to officiate in the diocese. So now he can help by taking services here and in local parishes.

Reader: Mrs Trot Lavelle
Churchwarden: Miss Joan Greenwood

Churchwarden: Patrick Robathan

Deputy assistant church warden: Temple Sambo

Temple joined St Stephen’s 17 years ago when he and his family moved in to the Parish. Ever since then he hasn’t stop attending St.Stephen’s even after he and his family moved out of the Parish 4 years ago,  as he and his children see themselves as members of the St. Stephen’s family.  Temple is in full time employment working in the Voluntary Housing Sector. He is married and they have 3 lovely daughters, 2 of whom are fellow servers like himself.

Deputy assistant church warden: Rita Frost

PCC Secretary: Jane Stroud

Parish Secretary: Gill Burdett

Director of Music: Michael Spencer

Footsteps, childrens work co-ordinator: Christine Murrell

Christine first attended St Stephen’s 20 years ago when her daughter Gemma joined the Brownies and she became involved in helping in the Creche on Sunday mornings.  She then went on to be a helper in the Children’s groups and for the past 15 years she has been organising Footsteps.  Christine was born in Norwood and educated at Sydenham High School .  After travelling widely she moved back to the area when her son Paul was born in 1976.  She has been married to John for 38 years, works part-time at King’s College London University as a Recruitment Adviser, and spends her leisure time dancing, cycling and walking.

Head Sidesperson: Michael Jenkins