SPS Today: "We're All in the Same Boat."

New Dean of Chapel Jeff Lewis Shares Vision for Chaplaincy at the School

As a former ship captain and lifelong watersport fanatic, Jeff Lewis has no shortage of boat metaphors for his new role as dean of chapel at St. Paul’s School. “Chapel in itself is a metaphor in that we’re all in the same boat,” he says. “There are no grades involved. We can consider the deeper meanings of life, listen to beautiful music, have honest conversations, and decompress a bit from what can be a busy life here at the School.”

Ironically, the busy school schedule is what attracted Lewis to the position at SPS. He most recently served as rector for an Episcopal church in California, but has previous secondary school experience as head chaplain at the Salisbury School in Connecticut and St. George’s School in Rhode Island. Lewis first discovered his passion for education while working for Outward Bound in Maine. His years of teaching character education as part of the program eventually led him to divinity school. Aside from overseeing the Chapel program at St. Paul’s, Lewis will be teaching humanities courses, including “Brahma to Buddha” and “Encounters,” and aspires to teach ethics in the coming years.

“I really missed teaching and I’ve always admired St. Paul’s School,” he says. “I was so impressed by the warmth and intelligence of the students and faculty during my visit that it really drew me to the School.” Lewis arrived in Concord in mid-August and describes his quick lead-up to the start of the school year as “learning the ropes as I’m sailing the ship.” Admittedly nervous on the morning of Fall Convocation, any anxiety quickly dissipated once Lewis heard the Choir start singing. He began sharing his vision for the Chapel program in his first address to the community.

“My hope is that Chapel is a bit of an antidote to the busyness of the SPS lifestyle,” he says. “I want it to be a place of peace and inspiration and, even though I come from the Episcopal tradition and I am an Episcopal priest, I really hope to be everyone’s chaplain.”