Vale Reverend Simon Wooldridge

By Mrs Annette Carter, College Historian

Bishop Mark has shared with us the sad news that Reverend Simon Wooldridge died yesterday.

As Radford College’s foundation Chaplain, Reverend Simon shaped the early spiritual life of the school. In the very first Radfordian, he reflected on the role of the College Chaplain, writing:

'The roles of teacher, liturgist, pastor, counsellor, go-between, confidant and even team-manager are important and legitimate ones which have given me great satisfaction and joy. The privilege of being with young people as they grow in wisdom, physical and emotional maturity and confidence is immense. But my greatest satisfaction comes when a person discovers that religion, or more particularly Christianity, is not essentially a set of propositions about God and the Bible; nor is it a set of rules and regulations by which to live. Essentially, Christianity is a living, growing, personal relationship with a real, personal, involved, Trinitarian God.'

At his farewell from Radford in 1985, it was noted how rare it was to find someone who could make the Scriptures come alive for young people. Reverend Simon had this gift in abundance, bringing insight and courage to his ministry, and leaving a lasting impression on all who heard him.

Reverend Simon made a profound and lasting contribution to the life of the Canberra and Goulburn Diocese. On his retirement from the Diocese in 2014, Canon Margaret Campbell observed that he was 'probably the last of the sons of the Diocese who offered for ministry as a young man, and who spent his whole ministry serving God in the Canberra and Goulburn Diocese'. Reverend Simon’s ministry spanned parish leadership in Wagga, Tarcutta, Charnwood, and Queanbeyan, as well as pioneering prison chaplaincy services at the Alexander Maconochie Centre.

Behind his humour and approachable manner was a man of humility, wisdom, prophetic vision, and deep pastoral care. His love for God and commitment to God’s people - especially those too often forgotten - shone through everything he did.