Towards the end of the 1950s, Richard Bowdler left the staff of All Souls, Langham Place, and the ministry of 'Chaplain to the Stores' passed to Michael Harper.
He was a Londoner (the family home had been in Welbeck Street) and he had long been an occasional visitor to All Souls. He was converted to Christ in his first year at Cambridge, and during the vacations had alternated between All Souls and Westminster Chapel.
He had met John Stott both in London and through the CICCU, and rubbed shoulders with him at meetings of the Eclectic Society while serving his first curacy at St. Barnabas, Clapham Common. It was during Michael Harper's time there that John Lefroy led a mission team from All Souls to St. Barnabas; and no doubt this played a part in the invitation to succeed Richard Bowdler in 1958. Michael Harper found John Stott 'a very powerful man but easy to work with - an awesome preacher ...'. He was one of six curates under the Rector's eye: 'I felt my relationship with him as a curate to a vicar was ideal ... I felt he didn't interfere, but he did take an interest in my work in the Stores. I remember I would share with him either at staff meetings or privately. I know he was interested: he listened to what I was saying and gave advice and supported me.'
