The Revd Sarah Brough and others write:

THE Revd Stephen Bell, Assistant Curate of St Mary’s, Chiddingfold, Surrey, died on 22 December, aged 62, after a short illness. Stephen had been ordained deacon by the Bishop of Dorking in July. His funeral was held at St Mary’s on 6 January.

Before ordination, he had worked for 35 years in state secondary education, mainly in senior positions in challenging schools.

As a husband, father, brother, son, colleague, teacher, consultant, team mate, captain, golf partner, Chair of Governors, churchwarden, deacon, and perhaps above all, friend, Stephen was a shining presence in the parish, and an inspiration and encouragement to all. Stephen brought the same clear-sighted, level-headed reliability and sensitivity to every job he was asked to do. Thorough, professional, focused, diligent, and committed, he set high standards for himself, and encouraged the same in others.

I got to know Stephen fairly slowly after I arrived in the parish in 2003: very wisely, he kept his head down in those days. In 2005, he was sounded out about standing for the office of churchwarden, and took up the post the following spring. It turned out to be something of a baptism of fire — his first Sunday was Easter Day, and the next month he was given news of my impending maternity leave. Of course, Stephen rose to the challenge superbly, working with others to ensure that everything ran smoothly.

When Stephen took office, the parish had just applied for permission to build its church room, and, together with other members of the congregation, he helped to steer the whole process from planning to opening. Stephen spent many hours completing the faculty application. He also produced the brochure for the fund-raising launch, and all the associated publicity.

The diligence and pride Stephen took in his post as churchwarden would delight even the most exacting of archdeacons. He compressed the architect’s quinquennial report into a PCC-friendly one-page action plan, the format of which is still used. He had evident fondness for our creaky old building, and for the clergy and congregation within it.

When his term of office ended in 2010, he was asked to explore some form of ministry within the Church. He was initially hesitant, but gradually came to discern that God had in mind another job to be done, and essays and theological reflections replaced faculty applications and quinquennial reports. Stephen began training for ministry in autumn 2012.

It was a joy to witness Stephen’s ministerial formation during these last years. Right from the start, his sermons were lively, encouraging, and thought-provoking, offering helpful connections between life and faith. Although his ministry among us was all too brief, the light of his faithful example, selfless service, and compelling witness to Christ remains undimmed, and will continue to inspire others in their vocation and ministry — whatever that may be.

Stephen’s last sermon, on 15 November, was more prophetic than any of us realised. In that day’s Gospel reading, Jesus told his followers not to put their trust in the material things of this world. None of us knew how much pain Stephen bore during the last months of his life; he never complained or drew attention to himself, and yet the pain he suffered opened within him ever greater depths of compassion and love.

He reached out to others, and through his own experience was able to walk alongside them with understanding, empathy, and identification, sharing their sorrows and carrying their pains with his own. Though increasingly weak physically, his faith seemed to grow and to shine through him ever more clearly. His priestly colleagues have expressed their joy in working alongside him as part of the ministry team, watching his deep and practical spirituality grow, and commenting on his terrific sense of fun and of the ridiculous while holding the important things of faith very sacred.

Stephen was married to Jane for 36 years, and they had one daughter, Emma.