IN MEMORIAM

His loss will be most keenly felt by his children, his grandchildren, and his wider family, who remain firmly in our prayers. He is greatly missed by students past and present, staff and faculty, and the many other mission partners that came into contact with him throughout his 11 years at the college.

Richard was the 11^th Principal of BST, serving our community from 2014 to 2025. A scholar of the New Testament and early Christianity, Richard taught across several fields. He will be remembered for his teaching in New Testament, Church History, and Greek, as well as classes in our Graduate Certificate in Pastoral Care for Mental Health and in Safeguarding Children.

Richard reaffirmed BST’s commitment to mission by launching our Centre for Asian Christianity in 2016, with a vision to accelerate gospel growth in the Asian church here and overseas, and joined us in partnership with Jaffray Theological College in Indonesia.

He was also deeply passionate about mental health, and the wellbeing of children in Christian communities, which led to a significant partnership with Living Wholeness, and the formation of our Safeguarding Children program.

Richard took joy in spending time with people. He was a constant presence in community lunches, a boisterous volleyball player at college camps, and a man who loved to pray with people, and for people. He was grieved by the separation forced on so many during the COVID-19 pandemic, and overjoyed when life and laughter returned to our campus.

Those who knew Richard well during his time at BST will be aware that his greatest contributions to college came through his character and his pastoral heart. Though a very sharp mind and an even quicker wit, it was his pastoral touch that most impacted the community. He left an indelible mark on BST in his active cultivation of a warm and genuine Christian community—one marked by the grace and forgiveness of Jesus. Richard was always especially concerned to care, both pastorally and academically, for those who felt that they might not belong at college or who might have otherwise struggled their way through college. In this way he emulated our Lord.

Earlier this year, soon after the passing of his wife Kim, Richard decided to preach at our weekly chapel for the entirety of the semester. He chose to preach a series on God’s grace. This series was Richard through-and-through: Richard understood that if we have any standing before God, it is only because of God’s favour towards us, which was made possible by the sacrifice of his Son upon the cross. Christian individuals fail. Christian communities fail. But God’s grace is sufficient to uphold us and to keep us in the love of God.

As a community, we grieve, but not as those who have no hope. And so we recall the Creed that Richard was raised on, and that he continued to recite throughout his life:

We look for the resurrection of the dead and the life of the world to come. Amen.