Announcement

Fr Simon writes:

“I am writing with news that brings with it a whole range of emotions. It is being announced this morning during notices at our 10am Mass and simultaneously online that I have been appointed by Bishop Sarah and the appointment panel representing the patrons and parish to be the next Rector of St Mary-le-Bow in the City of London. 

This appointment has come after a period of discernment, especially ahead of upcoming study leave, through which I came to believe that St Peter’s was in as strong a state as I might hope to hand over a parish to a successor and, with arrangements in place for study leave, in a particularly strong place for as smooth a transition during vacancy as any vacancy allows. 

This combined with a sense of calling to St Mary-le-Bow because of it’s particular ministry to public intellectual debate, inclusion, and social justice ministry through the work of Just Share alongside the witness it shares with St Peter’s to the abundance of catholic life in the Church of England through the beauty of worship and music. 

I am aware this news may be unsettling and please know I’m available to find a time to talk at any time. Again and again, Jesus meets on the pages of Scripture and tells us ‘do not be afraid’. I’m confident that whoever God calls to be the next Vicar of St Peter’s will be the right person to take forward the ministry and mission of St Peter’s in this new stage.

Alongside meeting so many wonderful people, one of the delights of my time here at St Peter’s is the growing sense of team from across the congregation, community, and through staff appointments, which represents a particularly strong and diverse group of gifted individuals, with whom it has been a huge privilege and pleasure to minister alongside. Part of my discernment in going forward was confidence in the team of people that God has called to St Peter’s and that God has something exciting in store for this next stage of St Peter’s life. 

It has been a huge privilege to play a small part in the incredible story of all that God has done and is doing in De Beauvoir Town, and especially to see St Peter’s become known by more and more people through our Sunday Mass, Choral Compline, Warm Welcome, Crafty Church, outreach, and social and fundraising events as a place of worship, nurture, and action, and a place in which truly everyone can find a home. 

Please do pray for me, as I will continue to pray for all of you, and especially for the Churchwardens, PCC, and staff team as they prepare for this period of transition. Whilst final arrangements have yet to be finalised, it is likely my final service will be a service of Evensong and Benediction at 3pm on Saturday 26th April, followed by a sparkling wine reception. My official resignation date will coincide with my return from study leave at the end of August, before an installation service at St Mary-le-Bow on Monday 15th September at 7pm. I have spoken to Archdeacon Peter who has encouraged me that the parish will be able to make good progress in setting in place the process for appointing a successor before my resignation date to help minimise the length of any vacancy.

We are shortly to enter the season of Lent with our Sung Mass on Ash Wednesday 5th March at 7.30pm, as we prepare to celebrate the Resurrection at Easter – a celebration which culminates with our Easter Vigil on Saturday 19th April at 7.30pm followed by a glass of something sparkling. It will be especially wonderful to celebrate the Resurrection at our Vigil and party together this year, before the Risen Jesus leads St Peter’s on this next stage of its share of, and witness to, the Risen life in this place.

This comes with all my love, and with every best wish and prayer,

Fr Simon

The text of the official announcement of Fr Simon’s appointment is below:

“The Churchwardens of St Mary-le-Bow are delighted to announce that the Reverend Dr Simon Cuff has been appointed as our next Rector and will take up his post in September, subject to the usual pre appointment checks.  

Fr Simon is currently Vicar of St Peter de Beauvoir Town in the Stepney Area of the diocese of London, as well as Vice Chair of the Just-Money Movement, and trustee of London Catalyst and Migrants Organise. He was formerly Tutor & Lecturer in Theology at St Mellitus College and is author of a number of books including recent publications Waiting on the Lord: Reflections for a Priestly Life and as editor of Catholic Life in the Church of England: Good News for Every Body. 

Fr Simon says: ‘I’m honoured to have received the call to be the next rector of St Mary-le-Bow, a church with an incredible legacy and unique place in the living history of London. As the grandson of a proud Cockney, I’m especially honoured to serve as Rector of the Church whose bells mark the margins of those born Londoners. I look foward to working with the Churchwardens, PCC, the whole community of St Mary-le-Bow, and local City institutions to continue St Mary-le-Bow’s reputation for eucharistic faith as a place of beautiful worship  with a heart for social justice, and a committment to enabling public intellectual life’.

Please join us as we pray for Fr Simon as he prepares to move to St Mary-le-Bow.  We look forward to welcoming him later this year.”