Charles Halsey Clark

The Reverend Charles Halsey "Kelly" Clark, ninth Rector of St. Paul's School, a kind and gentle man, a respected leader, Episcopal priest, and theological educator, beloved within the St. Paul's School community and beyond, died in Exeter, N.H., on March 11, 2019. He was 92 years old.

Born on December 2, 1926, in New York City, Kelly was the son of Martha Keck Clark and Alfred Marling Clark. He grew up in Coronado, Calif., attending the Francis Parker School in San Diego and the Thacher School in Ojai.

In 1944, Kelly enlisted in the U.S. Naval Reserve Officers Training Corps V12 program at UCLA, later graduating in 1948 from Yale. He earned his M.Div. from Virginia Theological Seminary in 1951 and was ordained priest in the Diocese of New York in December of 1952. In 1953, Kelly married Priscilla, another native Californian and student at the Yale Divinity School. With Priscilla and her daughter, Pamela, the couple began a wonderful 66-year partnership. From 1953 to 1957, Kelly served as assistant chaplain at Yale, lecturer in Old and New Testaments, and director of Yale's International Student Center. During that time, he received an M.A. in Old Testament studies from Yale in 1956.

For 20 years, from 1957 to 1977, Kelly worked for the Overseas Department of the Episcopal Church, living from 1957 to 1967 in Singapore, where he served as canon at St. Andrew's Anglican Cathedral, as a faculty member of Trinity Theological College, and as Warden of St. Peter's Hall. He spent an additional 10 years as the dean of St. Andrew's Theological Seminary and dean of Trinity College, Quezon City, Philippines, where he co-founded the South East Asia Institute of Music and Liturgy.

Kelly returned to the United States in 1977 to become dean of Berkeley Divinity School and an associate dean of the Yale Divinity School. In 1982, Kelly and Priscilla moved to Concord, N.H., for Kelly to begin his Rectorship at St. Paul's. He would later share that he was drawn to the School both for its mission and for the beautiful fields and ponds that dot the campus.

As the Ninth Rector, Kelly led 10 happy, fulfilling years among the students, faculty, staff, and families of SPS. During his tenure, Kelly oversaw a number of renovations of dormitories and classroom spaces, as well as the restoration of key buildings from the early years of the School. The construction and dedication of Ohrstrom Library in 1991 were conducted under his watch. Also of particular note were the 1988 celebrations surrounding the 100th anniversary of the Chapel of St. Peter and St. Paul. On May 12, 1988, Kelly helped dedicate the "Newest Window" to commemorate the Chapel's centennial.

Upon his "retirement" from St. Paul's, Kelly served as interim rector at St. Bartholomew's Episcopal Church, New York City, and then as Vicar of St. John the Evangelist in Dunbarton, N.H. The historic Abbott House in Concord became home for many years, as Kelly stayed active in the Concord community as a member of the Rotary Club, on the Board of the Friendly Kitchen, and as chairman of the New Hampshire Humanities Council. In 2010, Kelly and Priscilla moved to the Riverwoods Retirement Community in Exeter, N.H.

Throughout his life, Kelly received several honorary degrees and served on the boards of schools and organizations, including the Thacher School, the White Mountain School, and the Yale in China Program. An avid sportsman, Kelly was a champion tennis player all his life and a great horseman, including playing on the Singapore polo team.

Always gracious, Kelly was a true teacher, an elegant athlete, a devoted priest and missionary of the Gospel. He had a great sense of humor. He loved his family and friends, dogs, horses, tennis, poetry, music, acting, dancing, and the beach. He loved God and was devoted to following God's call wherever that led him, faithfully pastoring all the communities under his care.

Kelly is survived by his wife, Priscilla; four children, Martha, Nathaniel, Mary, and Anne; 11 grandchildren; four great-grandchildren; and two great-great-grandchildren. He was predeceased by his daughter, Pamela.

A Requiem Eucharist will be held on Friday, May 3, at 1:30 p.m. in the Chapel of St. Peter and St. Paul, St. Paul's School, Concord, N.H. A reception will follow. In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made to: Victory Programs (Boston, Mass.) and to the Advanced Studies Program at St. Paul's School.