The Reverend Mia Smith's last Chapel service at Hertford College
A fond farewell and heartfelt thanks to the Reverend Mia Smith
12 June 2023
On Sunday 11 June, members of Hertford College past and present gathered to celebrate Mia Smith’s last chapel service, celebrating her seven years as Chaplain at Hertford.
During his tribute to Mia, Principal Tom Fletcher said:
“The presence of so many colleagues, students, Fellows, former Principals and friends is testimony to everything that Mia means to Hertford. Mia’s service to the college is not measured in over 500 services – it is in the thousands of students and colleagues who have been here in the Mia era; In the tens of thousands of cups of tea, the hundreds of thousands of quiet but powerful interventions – of support, solidarity, celebration and joy, sadness and comfort. Quietly, patiently, but with absolute determination. That emotional labour, courageous kindness, cannot have been easy. Through lockdowns and leaving dos, tragedies and tantrums, weddings and funerals, rituals and rites of passage she has constantly held this whole eclectic community in her arms.”
We would like to share Mia’s response to Tom’s toast:
“Seven years ago I applied for a job I didn’t think I would get, hoping to get some CV feedback post curacy. To my delight I was interviewed, and thinking it was still a long shot, thought it might be fun to come and spend the day in an Oxford college. I then took the train straight from Oxford to Alnmouth to join my family on holiday. On the train I took a call from Will, offering me the job. I called my husband and said, ‘I don’t know what to do, I’m on a train and I need to dance! Being the Chaplain of Hertford College has been an enormous adventure. To continue the epic story theme of my sermon tonight, seven years is too short a time to live among such excellent and admirable hobbits. I don’t know half of you half as well as I should like; and at this juncture, the epic adventure turns into a love story. I have been shown such amazing kindness, friendship, teamwork, and community here. I thank you all from the bottom of my heart. Hertford College is a very special place, and I will miss you all very much. So please raise your glasses to Hertford College”.
At Mia’s final service, Tom was joined by his three predecessors, Will Hutton, John Landers and Sir Walter Bodmer, to thank Mia for her dedicated contribution to the life of the Chapel, and also for the highly skilful pastoral care she offered as part of the college’s welfare team.
Mia will be very much missed by the whole college community and together we all wish her very well in her next chapter of further studies at Durham University.