Fr. Luke Childs
1940-1976

Dom Alexander Luke Childs, a monk of Portsmouth Abbey died suddenly on August 20^th, 1976 of an aneurysm in the brain.

Father Luke was born on June 8^th, 1940 in New York City, the son of Mr. and Mrs. Frederick R. Childs. He attended the Portsmouth Priory School and Harvard University, being graduated from the latter magna cum laude and Phi Beta Kappa, in 1961. In that same year, he entered the Benedictine Community in Portsmouth and made his solemn vows as a monk in 1965. He received a Licentiate in Theology in August 1968 from Blackfriars in Oxford, England and was ordained a priest in the following December.

In the Abbey School, Father Luke served as Assistant Housemaster and as Housemaster, while also teaching in the History and Christian Doctrine departments. He was Director of Alumni and Development and for the last year served as Director of the Monastery’s retreat program. He also served on the Monastic Council.

This bare recital of his official duties can hardly reveal the great contribution that Father Luke made to his community and to the school.