The Personal Archive of The Reverend Canon Dr Simon Edward Stephens (1941–), Former Royal Navy Chaplain HMS Ark Royal, Former Hospital Chaplain and International Anglican Priest

Archive includes:

Coventry Cross of Nails Christian desk display
Signed Cuthbert Bardsley (Bishop of Coventry) Cambridge University Bible dedicated to Simon Edward Stephens on his ordination
Accompanying Coventry Cathedral ordination & various church paperwork
St Andrews Anglican Church Moscow tea towel
Russian Orthodox Church Medal 2003
Russian Orthodox Patriarch Alexy II invitation cards
Hand painted Orthodox style icon on a rough wooden plank
Royal Navy Identity Disc (dog tag) for Simon Edward Stephens
Royal Navy Chaplaincy material including various blank postcards from his travels and Rowan Williams greeting card

The Reverend Canon Simon Edward Stephens OBE RN is a prominent Anglican priest ordained to the Deaconate in 1967 and the Priesthood in 1968.  He is a former hospital and naval chaplain, serving as a Chaplain within the Royal Navy for 17 years, and the co-founder of The Compassionate Friends (TCF), a globally recognise organisation supporting bereaved parents.  He has managed diverse chaplains worldwide, including serving as the Chaplain of St Andrews Anglican church in Moscow for 14 years. He fostered close relations with Patriarch Alexy and his successor Patriarch Kyrill.  In April 2016 he was honoured at Lambeth Palace with a prestigious award for his significant contributions to ecumenism particularly in fostering closer relations with Eastern Orthodox churches. Following his long tenure in Russia, he took a final shorter retirement posting as the priest in charge of Saint Andrews Church in Tangiers, Morocco. He officially retired from active ministry in April 2017.

The following is a full citation for Simon's award at Lambeth Palace:
Awarded to Canon Simon Edward Stephens for his significant contribution to ecumenism, especially with the Eastern Orthodox Churches.
In June 2014 Canon Simon Stephens retired as Chaplain to St. Andrew’s Church and Anglican Centre, Moscow after fourteen years of outstanding service. He extended the work of the chaplaincy both geographically and pastorally, with visits to Mongolia for Christmas Services, to Kiev and monthly visits to St. Petersburg to take Communion Services, and elsewhere in his role as Area Dean, even travelling to Murmansk Prison to visit British detainees.
At the same time, Canon Stephens built up the congregation at St. Andrew’s where he nurtured the vocations to the Anglican ministry of two Russian Postgraduates. He fostered closer relations with the Russian Orthodox Church and with Patriarch Alexei and his successor Patriarch Kyrill.
He also established strong links with the British Embassy, together with many Commonwealth Embassies. His ministry also extended to several outreach programmes for local Russians, such as a branch of Alcoholics Anonymous, a reference library and concerts and opportunities for other gatherings.
After St. Andrew’s received a grant in 2003 from the Fellowship of St. Alban and St Sergius in Oxford to create a library for the Biblical Theological Institute of St. Andrew (called by its Russian acronym BBI), St. Andrew’s, BBI, and the Fellowship began a dialogue to create in 2006 the very first Anglican - Orthodox Education Centre, bringing together noted theologians and scholars from Russia and abroad to discuss current theological issues and foster understanding between the Orthodox and the Anglican Communions.
Such a ministry over fourteen years demanded exceptional political and ecclesiastical gifts and hard work in order to establish, sustain and build up an Anglican presence and to reach beyond denominational boundaries in such a city and, not least, at such a time.
Please check all photos to ensure you are happy with the overall condition

All items will be posted out with full insurance cover 

Any questions please ask - Many thanks