The Rev’d Canon Bernhard Schünemann
+44 (0) 7775 737082
Bernhard Schünemann was born in Göttingen in Germany. He came to England for family reasons when he was aged 15. Prior to his ordination Bernhard studied music and theology in London and Oxford. He worked as a ‘Cello teacher, parliamentary research assistant and as a nurse in a South London hospice.
As a priest, Bernhard was curate in the parish of Kirkby in Liverpool and a clergy staff member at St Martin-in-the-Fields in London. For ten years Bernhard was Vicar of Littlemore (in the city of Oxford) during which time he commissioned a new Choral work by Arvo Pärt (the Littlemore Tractus) to commemorate the 200th anniversary of the birth of Newman. Bernhard also taught RE at the European School (Culham) and at the Iqra Muslim School for girls in Littlemore.
Bernhard’s vocation to the priesthood was formed through the influence of living in the Rectory of St Anne’s in Soho (London) for ten years. It was here, helping at Centrepoint, which was in the same building, and being part of a small, seemingly insignificant, congregation that Bernhard experienced the power of God at work through the unlikeliest channels.
Bernhard is married to the Estonian artist Elo Allik and together they have three children: Mark, Peter and Helen. Bernhard has published some short articles on spirituality and is an occasionally contributor to ‘pause for thought’ on the BBC World Service.
In 2012, Bernhard was appointed honorary Canon of Tamale Cathedral by the Bishop of Tamale, Bishop Jacob Ayeebo, in recognition of his longstanding link with the work of of this diocese in Northern Ghana.
In addition to his duties at St Stephen’s Bernhard was appointed Area Director of Ordinands in 2013. This involves discerning vocations to the priesthood among those who are called to serve God and the church.
From 2013 Bernhard was also appointed chair of Chair of Council for Christians and Jews (CCJ) South East London.
