Father Knight of St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church retires after four decades of ministry
NORWOOD» After a ministry that spanned four decades in Delaware and Chester counties, Rev. F. Michael Knight will retire. At age 72, Father Knight has reached the age where retirement in his church is mandatory. Currently the Priest-in-Charge at St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church, 128 Chester Pike, Father Knight will preside at services, preaching his final sermon to his congregation, on Sunday, July 30.
Father Knight was ordained to the Episcopal priesthood in 1974. He studied at the former Philadelphia Divinity School at 42nd and Spruce Streets. As a child, he grew up in the Adirondak Mountains in New York , attending a one room schoolhouse. His one brother still lives on the same plot of land where they were raised. After graduating, he spent 21 years in the U.S. Air Force and National Guard, retiring in 1988 as a Lt. Colonel in the 170th Security Police Flight. He worked his way through seminary while commanding the unit.
Knight’s military service took him to Andrews AF Base, Vietnam and then to Maguire AFB. His served security detail for Presidents Johnson and Nixon. He said he was there on the historic night that President Nixon returned from China.
Knight, who has a B.S. degree in psychology, a Masters of Divinity degree and a certificate of doctoral studies in parish leadership, began his duties as minister at St Mary’s Episcopal Church at Seventh and Edwards Streets in the West End of Chester in 1976. Almost a decade later, he transferred to Transfiguration Church in West Chester, where he stayed until 2006 when he arrived at St. Stephen’s.
The Norwood church has a registered congregation of 124, but on a typical Sunday, he said, about 50 come to services. Most members of the congregation live in lower Delaware County, places like Folcroft, Glenolden, Norwood and Prospect Park, but they also come from as far as North Wilmington and Drexel Hill.
“I really like the people here,” Knight reflected. “There’s no pretense. The folks from this community are incredibly real. I am so proud of this congregation, and how they are running things now,” Knight shared. “Our services are colored by a worship style that is very upbeat, with joyful music, lots of kids and a real sense of excitement.”
In addition to services at 8 and 10 a.m. with fellowship afterward each Sunday, St. Stephen’s has an active outreach ministry, sponsoring ten programs per year, including the annual School Supply drive, ongoing collections and volunteerism at Loaves and Fishes Food Pantry in Prospect Park, collection for Crafts For Cancer and Souper Bowl of Caring. St. Stephen’s also has a Wednesday evening prayer group, an active Sunday School, family movie nights and a pre-school.
“When people visit St. Stephen’s, they almost universally feel relaxed,” Father Knight explained. “We have had people tell us that as soon as they came here, they felt like they were home. We don’t want to be a place that people just go for an hour on Sundays. We want them to feel at home and get involved here.”
A calling committee is already meeting at St. Stephen’s to find and interview a potential part-time replacement for Father Knight. The congregation will choose his successor.
Knight and his late wife Kit, who passed away in 2013, have three children, Kirste Tanzosh of Ridley Township, Drew Knight of Coatesville and Becca Baylor of Birdsboro, Pa. and five grandchildren. On Sunday, July 23, Knight’s family, which now includes his wife of three years, Jan Myers Knight, will gather with the congregation of St. Stephen’s, and anyone from the community who wishes to attend ,to honor Father Knight. The day will begin with a service at 10 a.m., followed by an open house that will last until 3 p.m. Everyone is welcome to stop by to extend their well wishes to the soon-tobe retiree.
Knight, a resident of Glen Mills, said he looks forward to doing some writing in his retirement, as well as “make a lot of sawdust” with his woodworking hobby. An Agent Orange cancer survivor, Knight said he feels blessed by his good health and looks forward to traveling some in the coming years. Celebrating their third anniversary this week, Father Michael and Jan hope to celebrate their anniversary and his retirement, by traveling in August to Charleston, S. C. in their RV to see the total eclipse.
“I have great hope for this congregation after I leave here,” Knight said. “I am thrilled with the way the lay leadership has grown. They have a real sense of mission and a vision for the future that will be implemented with many exciting and innovative plans.”
Asked if he will miss the day-to-day challenges and spiritual rewards that came from ministering to a congregation, Father Knight didn’t hesitate with an answer.
“Once a priest, always a priest,” Knight stated, adding that he is looking forward to having some down time to reflect on this “different season of life.”
“After I have this little sabbatical, I will then see where the Lord leads me,” he smiled.