Who is who
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.
Assistant priest: Revd Hazel Kimber
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
Trot actually travels from Camberwell to St Stephen’s and has done so for over 20 years. Being a Wife, Mother, Mother in law and Grandmother she has always enjoyed the spirituality and deep devotion to prayer at St Stephen’s and feels very privileged to be a part of the valued ministry team as Reader. In 2005 the Bishop of Southwark appointed her Sub-Warden of the Southwark Diocesan Association of Readers which gives her the opportunity to get to know more of the Readers and their parishes across the diocese. There are Southwark Readers on the edge of the Thames at Southwark Cathedral all the way down to beyond Gatwick Airport!
An enthusiastic amateur musician she is very drawn to the richness of the liturgical music at St Stephen’s. Having grown up in a very small hamlet in Shropshire she still delights in the wonderful variation of church music and inspiration it can give.Together with her husband John they have three children and six grandchildren – and two dogs who insist on regular daily walks!
Assistant priest: Revd. Paul Holley
Paul is based in Geneva and from there runs the Anglican Health Network http://www.anglicanhealth.org, an organisation networking Anglicans from the world-wide Anglican Communion who are working in health services, making sure an Anglican voice is heard at the WHO and that health and healing ministries remain at the heart of Anglican mission. Paul is being licensed as assistant priest, part-time and non-stipendiary here at St Stephen’s and will help with the taking of services whenever he is in London.
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: Jacqueline Ceglowski
Parish Secretary: Gill Burdett
Director of Music: Jonathan Turner
Born in Preston in 1987, Jonathan Turner was brought up in his hometown of Longridge where he began to study the organ with Nigel Spooner. Jonathan subsequently held the gap-year organ scholarship at Blackburn Cathedral where he became a pupil of Greg Morris. Whilst at Blackburn he accompanied the Young People’s Choir on a weekly basis as well as the Cathedral Choir and Cathedral Girls’ Choir. In addition, Jonathan enjoyed successful tours to Vienna with the Young People’s Choir and to St. David’s Cathedral with the Renaissance Singers.
In 2009 Jonathan graduated with a BA in Music from Oxford where he was organ scholar of Lincoln College. Whilst at Oxford, Jonathan also became a pupil of the late David Sanger. With Lincoln College Chapel Choir he toured Dublin and Rome, where they sang services in Christchurch Cathedral, Dublin and St. Peter’s Basilica, Rome. He has also been fortunate to broadcast with the choir on BBC Radio 4.
From September 2009 Jonathan served as Organ Scholar of Southwell Minster, during which time he achieved the Associateship diploma of the Royal College of Organist. His duties included accompanying the Minster Chorale and the Minster Girls’ Choir with whom he recorded his debut CD on the Cantoris label. In his final term at Southwell, Jonathan was Acting Assistant Director of Music before moving to Dulwich Prep, London to take up the position of Teacher of Music. He combines this position with the post of Director of Music here at St Stephen’s.
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
Editor of Spire: Angela Emmott
