The Rev'd Mark Everitt 1934-2025
With great sadness, we announce the loss of The Rev'd Mark Everitt.
Mark joined Merton as Chaplain and Tutor in Russian in 1963 after study at Lincoln College and at Wells Theological College and a curacy in his home county of Sussex, having learned Russian during National Service in the Air Force. He served in both posts for the next thirty-nine years until his retirement in 2002. As Chaplain he led the Chapel community through the many changes of those decades in a calm way, keeping Chapel worship both steadily faithful and open to those of many Christian traditions and none and encouraging many in their faith and future service. He also presided over a gradual but important expansion in the College’s provision of welfare support for students and served as Sub-Warden and Tutor for Admissions. His and Sue’s cheerful hospitality to students and colleagues alike helped many settle into the College.
As one of the few Russian tutors in the University he taught a series of undergraduate and graduate students who went on to work in public service, business and academia. His academic interests in the nineteenth-century Russian church led not only to publications but to sympathetic engagement with the churches behind the Iron Curtain and a refreshing trickle of Orthodox thought and practice into College Chapel life: it was fitting that the last sermon he preached as chaplain ended with a reminder of a Russian saint who greeted all comers with the bracing words ‘My joy, Christ is risen.’
The College extends its heartfelt condolences to Mark’s family and friends.
A Requiem Eucharist Mark will be held at 2pm on Saturday 8 November in the College Chapel, followed by tea in Hall.
Tickets will not be required; however, we would be grateful if you could indicate if you wish to attend by reserving your place here.
Fellows attending the service are kindly requested to wear gowns.
The service will be livestreamed here. For further details, please contact chapel.administrator@merton.ox.ac.uk.
