Who’s who

Fr. Michael Bailey SSC is our Parish Priest. He is also Area Dean of Lewisham. He was ordained in 2011. before his ordination training he was a Cancer Nurse in London for 10 years He trained at St. Stephen’s House, Oxford. Then he served his Curacy in North Coventry.  He was Vicar of All Saints, Sidley and P.I.C. of St. Barnabas, Bexhill. He is a Foundation Governor of our Church School and his Day Off is Monday. He can be contacted at frmichaelbailey@gmail.com

Fr Peter Hudson SSC is our Assistant Priest and administrative assistant to the Area Dean. He came to St Stephen’s in 2007. He is also the Forward in Faith Chaplain at The English Chapel, Gordon Square WC1H 0AG. He has an active ministry with the students and staff of the University of London. He also works with members of Forward in Faith.  Fr Peter often provides cover for parishes which are without a priest. His day off is Saturday. He can be contacted at frpeter@sswsml.com

Fr Stephen Wilson SSC served in the stipendiary ministry 1979-2015 in the London and Canterbury dioceses. Since then, he has been living in South London. He has permission to officiate at St Stephen’s and other parishes in the Southwark diocese needing occasional Sunday cover. He is married with two grown-up sons and twin granddaughters. He has academic interests relating to his original training in philosophy (Newcastle University), and theology (Emmanuel and Westcott House, Cambridge), and he has published several articles within those areas since ceasing stipendiary ministry. Several of his webcasts appear at this website, at ‘Prayer Resources’ in the ‘Worship’ section.”

Bishop Peter Wheatley is an Honorary Assistant Bishop in the Diocese of Southwark. He was formerly Bishop of Edmonton in North London. Bishop Peter lives in the Parish and assists regularly at St Stephen’s, as well as in other parishes as invited.

Fr Lindsay McKenna: Having recently retired from the neighbouring parish of S.Andrew’s Catford, Fr.Lindsay was initially ordained in the Scottish Episcopal Church, serving his Title in Broughty Ferry, outside Dundee. Subsequently he has served in the Church of England in the dioceses of Oxford, Wakefield and London. For a number of years he was Pastor Director of CARA, an agency based in west London, providing spiritual and pastoral support to people living with HIV. 

He is delighted now to be given the opportunity to serve here at S.Stephen’s, where he has had connections for many years. 

Fr Derek White MBE is a retired priest (former Church Army and a former Chaplain to the homeless in London.)

Mr. Neil Morkunas is our Ordinand (in training for ordination as a priest) and joined us in October 2025. He is studying with St Augustine’s College of Theology. He will spend the next two years supporting the clergy and congregation. His focus will be on the liturgical and pastoral life of the Parish.

Neil has had a long and varied working career as both a Civil Servant and in local government. He has run his own business and more recently was working in the Funeral Industry. Neil has been involved with the theatre from a very early age. He is the chair of a Cultural Heritage Charity.

He is very pleased to be at St Stephen’s. He looks ahead to working in the Parish over the next couple of years.

Denver Garrison – Churchwarden

Denver has lived in Lewisham for 20 years. Has previous and current work/voluntary work within the charitable sector in the areas of Public Health, Clinical Health, Psychology and Well-being. She is a Supporter of Food Cycle, a national initiative that provides meals to the local community. 

For Churchwardens please contact the Vicar or admin@sswsml.com

Hilary Moore – Churchwarden

Hilary is a clergy daughter, eldest of 5 children- all involved in Church life. Trained as a lawyer, then as a teacher in FE/HE, retiring when Assistant Principal of Capital City College Group. Oversaw a multi-million £ site with over 10K students of all ages; Designated Safeguarding lead for the group of 30.5K students. Foundation Governor at St Stephen’s school, governor at Baring Primary school since 1998, elected Cllr for Grove Park ward where have lived since 1994.

For Churchwardens please contact the Vicar or admin@sswsml.com

Sandra Baiden – Treasurer

“Sandra has been worshiping at St Stephen’s for over 10 years now. Having been inspired from her regular visits to Walsingham to be more involved in the matters of the church. Sandra is responsible for ensuring all financial matters of the church run smoothly.

Celia Bush – PCC – Secretary

Celia moved to London in 2018 after many years living in Suffolk. she now lives at Morden College in Blackheath, and has immediate family in the area. Celia was churchwarden of St Stephen’s. She was also a churchwarden in her previous church, St Mary at the Elms, Ipswich, for 6 years. She was until recently the secretary of The Society of Mary.