St Michael & All Angels Marks 30 Years of Father Kevin
Occasion celebrated with Choral Mass, cake and photographic exhibition
Father Kevin at the exhibition featuring highlights of his ministry. Picture: Tim Cox/Torin Douglas
May 26, 2026
St Michael & All Angels Church in Bedford Park has marked a major milestone in its modern history, celebrating 30 years of ministry by its vicar, Father Kevin Morris, with a special Choral Mass, a photographic exhibition and a reception.
Parishioners gathered on Sunday (24 May) to honour Fr Kevin’s three decades of leadership, service and community-building. The centrepiece of the celebration was an extraordinary cake created by local artist Sara Gronmark, who depicted Fr Kevin in icing sugar as St Michael, complete with the defeated dragon at his feet and a Bedford Park Festival programme in hand.
Fr Kevin arrived at St Michael’s on Pentecost Sunday in May 1996, opening his first Bedford Park Festival just weeks later. During the anniversary service, he was joined by his wife Miriam Solly, formerly the organiser of the Festival’s Green Days weekend, who was presented with flowers in recognition of her long-standing support. She was warmly described as “the woman behind every successful man”.
The Bedford Park Festival, now approaching its 60th year, has grown into one of Chiswick’s most cherished annual events, raising funds for the church’s conservation and local charities. Churchwarden Peter Haigh, speaking at the end of the service, praised Fr Kevin as “a wonderful spiritual leader” whose sermons at weddings, funerals and major services “always find the right words”. He also highlighted Fr Kevin’s commitment to the arts, which has helped make the church a cultural hub for the area.
Father Kevin with his specially made cake.
Picture: Tim Cox/Torin Douglas
That cultural role was strengthened further by the rebuilding of the Parish Hall 25 years ago, a project led and overseen by Fr Kevin. The new hall revitalised the Festival and enabled the church to host concerts, talks, craft fairs and the launch of the Chiswick Book Festival, now a major fixture in London’s literary calendar. The hall has also become a centre for education through its long-term partnership with Orchard House School and its popular children’s dance classes.
Father Kevin celebrating Mass on Pentecost Sunday. Picture: Tim Cox/Torin Douglas
A photographic display in the church — still open to visitors — charts Fr Kevin’s journey from his early days in Bedford Park to the present. Among the images are newspaper cuttings from the fundraising appeal for the Parish Hall and photographs of Fr Kevin with well-known faces who have supported the Festival over the years, including Richard Briers, Graham Seed, Kevin McNally, Sophie Ellis-Bextor, Nicki Chapman, Richard Coles, Mary Nightingale and Jeremy Vine.
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