Father Kirk Brown Announces Retirement
Longest-serving Chaplain in Christ School history will finish out 2018-19 school year
Kirk Brown has been encouraging Christ School boys to find deeper meaning in their lives for 24 years. To be grateful for each day's blessings and to savor them.
Father Brown will follow his own advice into retirement.
The longest-serving Chaplain in Christ School's history announced Tuesday that the 2018-19 school year will be his last. Students and faculty gave Father Brown a standing and hearty ovation inside St. Joseph's Chapel, where he has led countless services since first arriving on campus.
"These have been the best years of my life," Father Brown said.
"It is unreal the amount of memories that are here. I've spent more than a third of my life, and over half my working life in such a wonderful place. I never knew it would last this long or be this rewarding. It has been so worth the wait to get to this point, to see where the school is. With so many people stepping up in the community, I feel at peace with letting go."
Headmaster Paul Krieger praised Father Brown, and said the search for his replacement will be a national one. The search committee will be made up entirely of Christ School constituents and fully-engaged with the school's Board of Trustees. The board includes Rt. Rev. José Antonio McLoughlin, Bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Western North Carolina.
"Father Brown, you have left your mark," Krieger said. "You have blessed us for 24 years, letting us appreciate your stewardship and kindness. Let us help make this last year, your best year."
Father Brown's legacy can be felt in a number of ways. Among them, he has overseen the Senior Speech series since its inception in 2003. Countless alumni have asked him to preside over their weddings. He was here for an extensive renovation of St. Joseph's Chapel in 2006. A new Outdoor Chapel is one of the capital improvements that is currently underway at Christ School.
Father Brown joked that he will be part of the graduating Class of 2019 when Commencement takes place in May. Handing out bibles to 72 Greenie seniors will be one of his last acts as Chaplain.
After "taking a breather," Father Brown plans to travel and write.
His career began 41 years ago as a German teacher at Virginia Episcopal School. In 1989, he left VES to attend Virginia Theological Seminary. Father Brown was Associate Rector for three years at St. John's Episcopal Church in Roanoke, Va., before coming to Christ School in 1995.
