The evening of September 17, 2025 marked a significant moment for St. Joseph’s Chapel and Kent School. The Reverend Father Cheney, an Associate Chaplain and member of the History Department, was officially ordained to the priesthood.

At the ordination, Father Cheney was joined by the Bishop of New York, The Right Reverend Matthew Heyd, Reverend Allison Read, the mentors and classmates of the clergy, and important friends and family in his journey to the priesthood. He describes this moment by expressing his sincere “gratitude for the people who helped me along the way,” many of whom arrived to witness the ceremony.

For Father Cheney, the ordination served as “both the beginning and the end.” After six years of hard work, completing his preparation not only felt conclusive and fulfilling but also prepared him for the new possibilities ahead.

The moment he was ordained as a priest was the most meaningful part of the ceremony for him. Surrounded by all the priests present in the chapel, he knelt before the bishop, who laid his hands on him to represent a lifelong service to God and to the people.

What made this moment particularly special was the effort Father Cheney put into the process, which would have been impossible without determination, he explains.

His journey began when he was about the same age as the students at Kent. He felt the importance of religion, but hoped to seek more from Christianity than the way it was presented to him. He is especially thankful for Chaplain Reed, his college chaplain, for helping him “explore, ask questions, and even doubt” parts of his faith.

There were many parts to his discernment process. After being recommended a bishop, Father Cheney followed the advice to go to graduate school, took supplementary classes, experienced an internship, and conducted fieldwork. He showed his dedication through interviews, theological writing, academic testing, and patience.

For Father Cheney, perhaps the most challenging part of this journey was “taking a lot of criticism without taking it personally.” He received advice from many people, some of whom provided criticism that helped him grow.

One of the responsibilities that he felt went along with his priesthood was encouraging people, in his words, “to have a sense of trust in me and be able to approach me for help, whether spiritual or not.”

When asked if he had a message to share with the rest of the Kent community, Father Cheney responded with two simple words: “Thank you.” Whether it be a long-term supporter or a short-term helper, he extends his humility and gratitude to everyone who has helped him along the way.

The Kent School community would like to sincerely congratulate Chaplain Cheney on reaching a new chapter of his life.