Image: A Royal Air Force Grob Tutor training aircraft flying over Dundee, Scotland. Two Flying Training Schools are based at RAF Wittering. UK MOD © Crown copyright 2011
ASR Steven Dougherty is the Scripture Reader at RAF Northolt in West London. This summer, he and his family will be moving to RAF Wittering.
Steven shares how the Lord has opened a new door for ministry and what he has learned on the journey so far.
GOD IS FAITHFUL
‘I’ve been reading through the account of Abraham and Isaac in Genesis, where God is testing Abraham’s loyalty and commitment to God by sacrificing his son Isaac.’
‘It made me think of what I hold dear and ask myself, “How far am I prepared to lay that down before God?” Ultimately, can I trust God for the path He is leading me on and the change that might bring, even if it is uncomfortable and unsettling for a period?’
‘God saw Abraham was faithful and provided a ram for a sacrifice instead. I am learning every day to be more faithful, to trust and have the confidence that I can lay down the things I hold dear before God. He is faithful.’
Steven’s had many ‘false dawns’ since beginning his work with SASRA.
I am learning every day to be more faithful, to trust and have the confidence that I can lay down the things I hold dear before God.
‘We’ve been wanting to move house since before I started in 2022. I would tell the family that there might be an opportunity to move house with my new job with SASRA. It would become a regular prayer request from the children around the dinner table.’
God was teaching me to remain patient and stay faithful.
‘For a long period it certainly didn’t look like it would be become a reality. It was hard because I couldn’t give them the answer they wanted, I even questioned if God would provide a house. God was teaching me to remain patient and stay faithful.’
Fast-forward to 2025, and the Lord has provided the family with accommodation ‘behind the wire’ and new opportunities to serve at RAF Wittering.
A NEW STATION
RAF Wittering is still a flying station like Northolt but also has Army engineers based there, and more of the aviators are deployed.
‘Wittering enables RAF operations, which can mean anything from catering to military transport. It is still very much an operational airfield’, says Steven. ‘There is constant movement and a high turnover of staff as they get deployed.’
There is much history at RAF Wittering. A unique quirk is that it borders two different counties: Cambridgeshire and Northamptonshire. Built in 1916, it was the home of the Harrier jump jets for over four decades (1968 to 2010). Now it is the home of the Grob Tutor aircraft, with the flying training school providing elementary training to the next generation of pilots.
Image: Scripture Reader going ‘behind the wire’. ©SASRA
A NEW HOME
While Northolt and Wittering have their similarities in both being operational flying stations, a big change for the Dougherty household will be living ‘behind the wire’ for the first time.
‘I’ve got the opportunity to be inside the wire. Very few camps have housing inside the wire. It’ll mean we’re part of the community and can connect with people on camp and in the village. It is exciting.’
I’m looking forward to having an open house.
Steven is also looking forward to the hospitality they can show. ‘I felt there was a disconnect at Northolt as our house is an hour away so I can’t easily invite someone over. Now I’m looking forward to having an open house, maybe having a Christianity Explored course. Pray for those dynamics. I’m also looking forward to my wife feeling part of the ministry as we open up our house more.’
IN THE THICK OF IT
Already, Steven has felt involved in station life at Wittering.
Image: Steven Dougherty in conversation. ©SASRA
I’m already becoming a face that’s recognised.
‘I’ve been invited to meetings and have been right in the thick of it, not on the fringes, which is a real blessing. I’m already becoming a face that’s recognised. I’ve met the Senior Chaplain who is really excited about me being here and the Station Commander is really favourable. I feel that God has paved the way and given us Scripture Readers favour. That’s a real blessing.’
CHALLENGES OF CITY TO COUNTRY
RAF Wittering is located next to Wittering village. The move will mark the end of an era: ‘We’ve lived in our house for twenty-five years. London is all the kids have ever known’. Undoubtedly it will take time to adjust to the new environment.
London is all the kids have ever known.
‘Moving stations from purely practical terms means finding the right school for my children and getting a feel for the area. Every Scripture Reader is different, I have different challenges compared to Gavin Dickson (who moved from Edinburgh to Colchester) or Paul Curd (who moved from Chepstow to Edinburgh).’
‘My kids are doing exams now which means we won’t move until mid-August. We’re back and forth visiting schools’, Steven says. ‘Another challenge is moving from the hustle and bustle of London to a rural village. Wittering is very small compared with London. You need a car to get anywhere. The nearest town is a ten-minute drive away. Getting around by public transport isn’t possible.’
‘Finding a church fellowship is another aspect of moving. Wittering is in the countryside, so there are lots of small parish churches. We are looking for a church that will do kids work; we’re going to have to travel to be in fellowship.’
Until their move in August, Steven is splitting his week between spending a couple of days at RAF Wittering and continuing at RAF Northolt.
Image: The Red Arrows taking part in the RAF100 parade and flypast over London on 10 July 2018. The event marked a celebration of the Royal Air Force’s centenary year. UK MOD © Crown copyright 2022
Pray with us
- Give thanks for open doors at RAF Wittering.
- Pray that Steven, his wife Jen and their four children would settle into life in a new place. Pray for the provision of a church where they would be well fed and shepherded.
- Pray that living ‘behind the wire’ will provide new opportunities for the Dougherty family.
- Pray for Steven’s relationships with personnel at RAF Wittering, including with the Chaplaincy and Chain of Command.
