8 features features 9 A friend, and Bishop built a church on a family holiday a man of ONE of the more unusual the help of a local builder. It Kenneth: a brave man and stories to come to light in the was hard work, with 2,000 wake of Kenneth’s death is concrete blocks used. great faith the involvement of his family Kenneth and his sister in building a small church in Elisabeth – now the wife of Scotland. the Bishop of Chester – also and courage Back in the 1960s, collected stones from a local Kenneth’s father, also called burn to decorate the I WAS sad to hear of the death of Bishop Kenneth Stevenson, was church’s east wall. Kenneth Stevenson, who I have known as a a remarkable bishop working as an architect and Church administrator bishop, a friend and a colleague for many used to spend his holidays in Christine Dodds said: years. RIBUTES have poured in a village called Nostie, near “Everyone who visits the Jane and I, with others from St to the faithful life and the Kyle of Lochalsh, in the church is bowled over by the Wilfrid’s Church, Cowplain, travelled to Scottish Highlands. The fam- wall, which has groups of remarkable work of Southwark Cathedral to support him when T ily attended meetings of the pebbles designed so they look he was consecrated as bishop, and it was Bishop Kenneth. Episcopal Church in the like saints. It reflected their there we first met him, Sarah and their Colleagues and friends have spoken local hotel. Nordic family roots. delightful family. of his contribution to the life of the When someone offered “Bishop Kenneth’s father, I am proud to have known him, privi- Church, his scholarship and his academic some land for a brand new who was then a lay reader, leged to have served under him as my bish- achievements. But what many people in church building, Kenneth took the first service there, of op, and grateful to him for his friendship our parishes remember is his humanity Stevenson senior designed it. Mattins. And Bishop and support over many years. and courage as he fought both leukaemia Then in August 1963 the Kenneth wrote something for When he was appointed Bishop of and subsequent illnesses caused by his family arrived in a caravan our guide book only last Portsmouth he was, at that time, the vulnerability to infection. and built St Donnan’s year. We would have loved it youngest diocesan bishop in the Church of Prayers for his family have been said Church from scratch, with if he could have visited.” England and he brought to the diocese in our parish churches, and worshippers FREE SPECIALIST energy, ability and an enormous sense of and others have written personal tributes CATALOGUE AVAILABLE fun. in books of condolence in our cathedral NATIONAL Holidays It is impossible to pay adequate tribute and Newport Minster. Requiem Masses FRUIT to the contribution he has made to the life took place at a Gosport PCC members’ SPECIALISTS Over 300 apple varieties Pages of the diocese, in its widest sense, and he conference in Holy Trinity Church; at St on M26 (8ft) and many on M27 (4ft) Patio Trees, Upright Cordons, Family Trees of Cherry, 10 & 11 was a much-loved and respected figure Thomas the Apostle, Elson; and at All Plum, Apple, Pear, Peach and so much more! across all the communities which the dio- Saints Church, Godshill. Send for latest cese encompasses. Bishop Kenneth died early in the Bishop Kenneth: (left) with Sarah at Catalogue loads of offers DEACONS NURSERY Under his leadership Kairos, a pro- morning of January 12. His condition had his farewell service in September Godshill, Isle of Wight PO38 3HW 01983 840750 (24hrs) gramme of renewal and community engage- deteriorated a few days previously and he 2009; (above) reflecting on his experi- Tel: 01983 522243 Fax: 01983 523575 Email: [email protected] ment, was launched and this has re- had decided to receive only palliative ence of being treated for leukaemia in or visit our website vitalised the lives of parishes and individu- care. Over those few days, he was able to 2007; (top right) after a Kairos serv- www.deaconsnurseryfruits.co.uk als in innumerable ways. spend time with all his family and was ice in 2005; (right) with Hampshire’s I got to know him as a man of deep faith cared for medically and spiritually with two other bishops, Bishop Michael and prayer, and it was this that enabled devotion. Scott-Joynt and Bishop Crispian Hollis him to fight with such determination to The current Bishop of Portsmouth, And the Rt Rev David Stancliffe, rather than a mitre. He was great fun and ly. Some of his best writing actually came worshipping at recover from the effects of leukaemia after the Rt Rev Christopher Foster, said: who was Provost of Portsmouth the kind of person who would ask awk- after he became ill. Chichester Cathedral. this was diagnosed in 2005. His courage, “Kenneth Stevenson had a big heart, a Cathedral from 1982-1993 and Bishop of ward questions or make irreverent “Once he was diagnosed with The Bishop of resolve and sheer fortitude have been an strong voice and deep commitment. Salisbury from 1993-2010, said: “I first remarks – and it’s important that the leukaemia, he made himself more vulner- Chichester, the Rt Rev John Hind, example to us all. These he offered to the world and the met him in 1978 and we were on the Church of England has those kinds of able and let people in to how he was feel- said: “Kenneth was a formidable intellect The Rt Rev Michael Scott-Joynt, All our thoughts and prayers are with church, and very many of us cherish his Liturgical Commission together in the people. ing. People saw what he was really like and an enormously important contributor Bishop of Winchester, said: “Kenneth Sarah, who shared and delighted in his infectious confidence in God and the 1980s. “He understood that the Church of and their affection for him increased to the intellectual life of the Church of and I began as neighbour-bishops within ministry as bishop, and whose hospitality clarity with which he shared it. “I always saw Kenneth as being like a England is a variety of textures and cul- enormously.” England and its ecumenical partners. a few weeks of each other, and I have and welcome were so appreciated by all “The Diocese of Portsmouth, which I Nordic or Baltic chieftain – I imagined tures, and he made important contribu- Bishop Kenneth had moved to “Since his enforced early retirement it greatly valued his trenchant convictions those who were welcomed to their home. know he loved and served so courageous- him wearing a Viking helmet with horns tions liturgically, Biblically and spiritual- Chichester after his retirement, and was has been a wonderful privilege to wel- and his lively conversation. Sarah’s devotion to Kenneth throughout his ly, remembers him with gratitude for the come him to the diocese of Chichester as “With so many others, I have enjoyed illness was truly humbling. teaching and leadership he gave but, The Rt Rev Dr Kenneth Stevenson Honorary Assistant Bishop and member and made use of his great learning and I was with Kenneth only a short while most of all, for the generous way he of the cathedral community. We shall the grace and attractiveness of his exten- THE Rt Rev Dr Kenneth Stevenson the country. theology, and wrote 11 other books. before he died and his deep faith in God shared both his humanity and his faith miss him greatly and offer Sarah and the sive writing. His faith and his courage, and his evident trust in God’s promises was the eighth Bishop of Portsmouth. Kenneth was heavily involved in As one of the 26 most senior bish- family our heartfelt sympathy and and that of Sarah alongside him, through during his illness. Born near Edinburgh, he was strengthening relations between the ops in the Church, he sat in the House made a deep impression on all those who prayers.” the years of his illness have been very “He could seem irreverent and he rel- part-Scottish and part-Danish – his Anglican Churches of the British Isles of Lords. He was keen to liaise with were with him in hospital. The Rt Rev Crispian Hollis, the remarkable, and humbling, and ished lively debate, but this was because grandfather was the Danish Lutheran and the Lutheran Churches of the civic and community leaders over He died peacefully, with those who he Roman Catholic Bishop of Portsmouth, immensely encouraging.” of his resilient confidence in Jesus Christ. Bishop Skat Hoffmeyer of Aarhus. He Nordic and Baltic countries. In 2006 local issues he might raise there. And loved alongside him, confident worked very closely with Bishop And there was an interesting message I miss a friend of energy and passion; achieved an MA from Edinburgh he became a Knight Commander of he launched our diocese’s Kairos in the resurrection of Kenneth for many years. He said: “I was from the Abbot of Mondaye Abbey in Kenneth was such fun, and full of life.” University, a PhD from Southampton the Kingdom of Denmark’s Order of process, encouraging parishes to Christ and the life very sorry to hear of the death of my The Rt Rev John Gladwin, former and a Doctor of Divinity from the Dannebrog, in honour of his serv- engage with and challenge the com- Normandy, where Gosport clergy meet of the world to good friend, Bishop Kenneth Stevenson. Bishop of Guildford and Chelmsford, Edinburgh. His ordination training at ices to the country. munities in which they live. for an annual retreat. Brother Joel come. said: “He was a very great bishop for the Salisbury was followed by spells as a He was an author and a scholar, His experience of being diagnosed “Kenneth has battled with ill health Houque met Bishop Kenneth on a return Church of England. Intellectually and parish priest in Lincolnshire and with a specialism in history and litur- with leukaemia in 2005 and his subse- for a number of years and he was always visit to St Faith’s Church, Lee-on-the- The Rt Rev Peter spiritually, he understood the Church and Guildford and as a university chap- gy, and was a visiting Professor at quent treatment – including two bone courageous and optimistic in his suffer- Solent, helping at a Eucharist and a bap- Hancock, Bishop of the culture of Anglicanism. He under- lain in Manchester. Notre Dame University, Indiana, USA marrow transplants – had a profound ing. I am happy for him and for Sarah, tism service in 2007. his wife, that he had been able to enjoy Basingstoke, and stood the balance of the Church in that it He was appointed Bishop of in 1983. He collaborated with the effect on his faith and work. “It was one of his first outings after some months of retirement before the Archdeacon of the is both Catholic and Reformed, and held Portsmouth in 1995. It was an unusu- Bishop in Europe, Geoffrey Rowell, He leaves a wife, Sarah, and four his bone marrow transplant,” said onset of this last illness. Brother Joel. “That had hit me so hard Meon in our onto that tension. al move for a parish priest to become and the Archbishop of Canterbury, children, James, Elisabeth, Kitty and “My prayers are, of course, for him because I had also been diagnosed with diocese from “He enabled the Church of England a bishop without having held any Rowan Williams, in editing Love’s Alexandra. His website – www.ken and also for Sarah and all the family. the same disease and it was a question for 1999 until 2010 the the Church of Denmark to be in full other senior role. He was only 45 and Redeeming Work, a best-selling nethstevenson.org.uk – contains some May he rest in peace.” me of a bone marrow transplant.” communion – that was his achievement.” was the youngest diocesan bishop in anthology of Anglican spirituality and of his speeches, sermons and writing.