The Right Reverend Ruth Woodliff-Stanley has called the Reverend John Robert Spainhour to serve as priest-in-charge of The Church of the Epiphany in Summerville. While Father Rob most recently served in the Diocese of Vermont, his ministry in The Episcopal Church began in the Diocese of South Carolina and he is grateful to return to where he has spent much of his life.

Bishop Woodliff-Stanley is thankful for the experience Father Rob brings to Epiphany, Summerville, where the Rev. Len Williams has served the congregation faithfully for a number of years. “I am so grateful for the gracious and seasoned leadership of Father Rob and look forward to the continued growth and vitality of Epiphany as he and the congregation build upon the good work done during Father Len’s strong tenure,” said Bishop Woodliff-Stanley.

Following graduation from the College of Charleston in 1978, Father Rob began his career in education, as a teacher and later as assistant principal, while remaining deeply involved in lay ministry at Trinity, Pinopolis. After discerning a call to the priesthood, he earned a Master of Divinity from Trinity Episcopal Seminary and was ordained a priest in the Diocese of South Carolina in 1992. In his first call, he served for 10 years as rector of St. John’s, Oakland in West Ashley (Charleston). In 2005, he was called to the Diocese of East Carolina to serve two congregations while simultaneously working as principal of two public high schools in eastern North Carolina. He continued as a bi-vocational priest for nine years before answering a call to serve as full-time priest-in-charge of Church of the Advent in Williamston, NC.

In 2015, Father Rob was called as rector of Holy Trinity Episcopal Church in Swanton, Vermont, where he served for eight years before retiring from full-time ministry and returning to South Carolina in March 2023. Not long after his return, he soon became active in the Diocese of South Carolina again, serving as supply priest for a number of congregations over the past year. Father Rob is joyfully looking forward to serving part-time at Epiphany, Summerville. “Epiphany is a wonderful, historic parish with an energetic and lively congregation located in the heart of beautiful, historic downtown Summerville,” said Fr. Rob. “Building upon the great things of the past, I trust we will continue to see marvelous things together in the future.”

Though he was born in North Carolina, Father Rob has lived most of his life in South Carolina, first moving to Edisto Island while in elementary school. He was confirmed in The Episcopal Church in 1981 at St. George’s, Summerville. Throughout his ministry, Father Rob has been active in diocesan service as well, including as President of the Standing Committee and a member of the Diocesan Council in the Diocese of South Carolina, as well as a variety of diocesan roles in the Diocese of East Carolina, and the Diocese of Vermont. In addition, he has served The Episcopal Church at several General Conventions.

Father Rob is the proud father of his daughters, Cantey—who followed in her father’s footsteps as a teacher—and Avery (who unexpectedly died in 2016 and is interred at Grace Church Cathedral, Charleston), and five grandchildren. He lives in Goose Creek and joyfully spends time with his daughter and grandchildren whenever he is able.
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About Epiphany, Summerville
Epiphany Church of Summerville was founded in the 1880s and built in 1887 on land donated by Catherine Springs, a free person of color who operated a thriving business on King Street in downtown Charleston before opening a hat and dress shop in Summerville. In addition to donating money and land to Epiphany Church, she also donated the same to build the Banks School, which provided the first public education for Black children in Summerville. It was operated by Epiphany Episcopal Church, which was then a mission of St. Paul’s Episcopal Church in Summerville.

With the enthusiastic support of its vestry, Bishop Ruth Woodliff-Stanley has called Michael Crandall as rector of St. George’s Episcopal Church in Summerville. He brings a unique background and ministry to this call, and the people of St. George’s are excited to welcome him and his family to their congregation in June.
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Following 26 years of ministry in the Baptist church, Crandall’s faith journey led him to service in the United States Navy Chaplain Corps in 2017. During his time as chaplain, and with the support of the Diocese of Hawaii, he discerned a call to continue his ministry in The Episcopal Church and return to parish ministry. Crandall is currently enrolled at The University of the South: Sewanee, working toward a diploma of Anglican studies (May 2024) and doctorate of ministry (2025). God willing and the people consenting, pending his successful completion of all necessary requirements for ordination in The Episcopal Church, Crandall will be ordained to the transitional diaconate in Hawaii in the spring and is expected to be ordained to the priesthood in the fall at St. George’s, Summerville.

Bishop Ruth Woodliff-Stanley shared her joy about this call to St. George’s, Summerville. “Michael is a gifted pastor with a heart for evangelism,” said the bishop. “He brings wonderful skills to St. George’s. I am inspired by his love for Jesus and his contagious enthusiasm about the parish. I look forward to welcoming him and his partner, Brayden, to our diocese!”
 
Crandall’s greatest passions in ministry include meeting people where they are and walking alongside them in their journey, as well as helping parishes discern God’s call for them and navigating the path to get there together. Crandall and his family look forward to the future with the people of St. George’s, Summerville. “Brayden & I are excited to partner with St. George’s on this journey, and we look forward to serving in the Diocese of South Carolina,” said Crandall.
 
A native of Tennessee, Crandall considers himself an avid life-long learner, and in addition to his current path of study at Sewanee, he previously earned multiple degrees at Union University including a Christian Ministry Diploma (2004), associate’s degree of divinity (2005), and Bachelor of Science in organizational leadership (2009). He completed a Master of Divinity at New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary in 2014. His 26 years of ministry in The Baptist Church began in service as supply clergy at the age of 16, and later as hospital chaplain, minister of students, and senior clergy. He also served at a convention level in various roles including vice-chair of the Tennessee Baptist Mission Board and vice president of the Tennessee Baptist Convention. As noted above, in 2017 he began serving in in the Chaplain Corps of the United States Navy, which brought him to the Diocese of Hawaii and The Episcopal Church.

When he moves to Summerville this year, Crandall will be joined by his partner, Brayden, and three children Hayden (19), Carter (17), and Brynlee (16). In his free time, Michael enjoys supporting his children in all that they do, reading, traveling, and exercising.  

About St. George’s, Summerville
Organized in 1979, St. George’s Episcopal Church is located at 9110 Dorchester Road, on the border of Summerville and North Charleston. St. George’s is a welcoming, diverse and stable congregation, dedicated to growing and expanding ministries to serve the families in a continually growing population. One of the church’s most active ministries is a Bookbag Buddies program that helps provide food security for students on the weekends and while they are not in school. The church offers services of worship each Sunday at 8 am (Holy Eucharist Rite I) and 10:30 am (Holy Eucharist Rite II). A time of Christian education and fellowship is held between the services from 9:15-10 am. 

Bishop Ruth Woodliff-Stanley has called the Rev. Kevin Sparrow to serve as the second rector of St. Anne’s Episcopal Church in Conway. Though he was raised in Georgia, Father Sparrow will be moving to South Carolina from Montpelier, Vermont, where he has served since September 2021 as the priest-in-charge of Christ Episcopal Church. His start date with St. Anne’s is still being finalized but will be announced soon.

The bishop expressed her great joy about this call to St. Anne’s. “Through the perseverance, clarity, and patience of the strong leaders of St Anne’s, the Holy Spirit has worked to bring together this courageous community with a gifted priest,” said Bishop Woodliff-Stanley. “The Rev. Kevin Sparrow is a seasoned priest, a scholar, and a joyful pastoral leader; it was clear to all that this is a wonderful match. I am delighted to welcome him, along with his spouse, Andrew, to St Anne’s and to our diocese.”
 
Ordained to the priesthood in the Episcopal Diocese of California in 2012, Father Sparrow served congregations California and Massachusetts in a variety of roles before being called to Christ Church in Vermont in 2021, where he was successful in increasing average attendance and pledges and maintained a thriving program for youth and family ministries. Over the course of his career, he has served in the Peace Corps, and taken on various roles in administration, Christian formation, children’s ministries, and chaplaincy.

Leadership of St. Anne’s, Conway, joyfully announced the news on Wednesday, February 21. Father Sparrow is looking forward to becoming a part of the St. Anne’s community. “I am both humbled and thrilled to have been called as the next rector of St. Anne's,” said Sparrow. “I can't wait to begin ministry with the congregation and get to know the local community. It is truly a special place."

Father Sparrow graduated magna cum laude with a bachelor’s degree from The University of the South (Sewanee) in 1996 with double major in history and art history (Phi Beta Kappa). He earned his MDiv from Harvard Divinity School in 2000, and a certificate of Anglican Studies from the Church Divinity School of the Pacific (Berkeley, CA) in 2010. He is currently pursuing a doctorate of ministry in liturgy from The University of the South. Father Kevin and his spouse, Andrew Lane, look forward to moving to Conway soon, along with their dog, Nino.
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While the origins of St. Anne’s date back to living room gatherings in 2012, the congregation officially organized in 2013, and was recognized as a mission church of our diocese in 2014 and as a parish in 2018. After worshipping for most of their time in Lackey Chapel on the campus of Coastal Carolina University, St. Anne’s purchased a building in 2020, and following extensive renovations, the new church building was dedicated and consecrated by Bishop Ruth Woodliff-Stanley in December 2021.

​There was rejoicing in Conway on Sunday, November 12 as the people of St. Anne's Episcopal Church celebrated their tenth anniversary. The congregation welcomed back their vicar emeritus, the Rev. Barry Stopfel, as preacher, and the Rev. Sandy Moyle, who previously served as interim rector, was celebrant. After the service, everyone enjoyed a delicious lunch and time of fellowship.

From the church's beginnings in the living rooms of faithful Episcopalians, to years in a chapel on the campus of Coastal Carolina University leading up to their purchase of a space of their own in 2020 which is now their church home, St. Anne's has continued to grow over the past decade. This loving and inclusive congregation has kept The Episcopal Church flag flying in this community, as faithful ministers of God's love. 

St. Anne's, Conway, is currently in the process of searching for their next rector. Please continue to keep this congregation and their search committee in your prayers as they continue to spread the Good News of Jesus in Conway and beyond!

​Earlier this week, St. Stephen's, Charleston announced that with the blessing of Bishop Ruth Woodliff-Stanley and the support of the church's rector and vestry, the Rev. Deacon Greg Smith will retire before the end of the year. His last service at St. Stephen's will be Sunday, December 3, after 24 years of ordained ministry. 

Though he will step away from the role of deacon assisting in liturgy and parish life, he will continue to serve the final two years of a six-year term as trustee on the Bishop Gadsden Board of Directors and he will continue to serve on the Diocesan Racial Justice and Reconciliation Commission. In his announcement to the congregation, Deacon Greg said, "My hope is to be less busy, to spend 'less time doing and more time being.' I want to enjoy time with my wife Lyn and our family and open my heart finding God’s spirit in Creation as I spend time in nature."

Bishop Ruth Woodliff-Stanley has called the Rev. Jeffrey Wallace to serve as priest-in-charge of St. David’s, Cheraw, beginning Sunday, October 1. Father Jeff most recently served as associate priest of St. George’s, Summerville, and as chaplain to the Charleston Port and Seafarers’ Society and the South Carolina Port Authority.
 
The Rev. Mike Bye had been serving St. David’s, Cheraw and the Episcopal Worship Group of Cheraw for the past five years. When St. David’s, Cheraw, and St. Bartholomew’s, Hartsville, returned to our diocese in 2022, Father Mike answered the call to serve as interim priest-in-charge of both congregations. As Father Jeff answers this call to St. David’s, Father Mike will focus his ministry as priest-in-charge of St. Bartholomew’s.
 
“The Rev. Mike Bye, working with outstanding lay leaders laid a solid foundation for a new season of ministry at St. David’s, Cheraw,” said Bishop Woodliff-Stanley. “Now, as Father Bye moves his full-time attention to St. Bartholomew’s, I am delighted that the Rev. Jeff Wallace has accepted the call to serve as priest-in-charge at St. David’s. Father Wallace is well known and loved in this diocese and in the community, particularly for his pastoral experience ministering to seafarers. His passion for the care of our front-line workers has been a particularly important part of his ministry. His pastoral and administrative skills will be a gift to St. David’s.”
 
With more than 40 years of experience in parish work at Lutheran and Episcopal churches (including St. Paul’s, Bennettsville), Wallace was ordained to the priesthood in the Diocese of South Carolina in 2007. Earlier this year, after ending his season of ministry with the Charleston Port and Seafarers’ Society, he founded Grace-based Grief Resources for Children (GGRC), a Christian community of volunteers whose mission is to help the “helpers” of traumatized and bereaved children. The organization provides the services of an ordained chaplain or of a certified grief counselor to first responders, children's ministers, crisis chaplains, hospice caregivers, hospital staff, foster parents, funeral directors, and house parents of group homes. Fr. Jeff hopes to extend the reach of GGRC to the Cheraw area and plans to be visible in the community in other ways. 
 
Fr. Jeff and his wife of 45 years, Stephanie, have four adult children and eight grandchildren.

With excitement for the continued growth and development of Voorhees University, Bishop Ruth Woodliff-Stanley is thrilled to share that the Reverend Marie-Carmel Chery has been called to serve as Dean of the Chapel & Spiritual Engagement at Voorhees University, effective September 1, 2023. In this role, Dean Chery will also serve as vicar of St. Philip’s Chapel on campus, as well as an assistant professor of Theological Studies at the university.

Dean Chery earned a bachelor’s degree in religious science from the Episcopal University of Haiti, and she graduated from the Episcopal Theological Seminary in Port-au-Prince, Haiti in 2011. She was ordained to the priesthood in Haiti in 2014. Prior to coming to the United States, Dean Chery served several parishes across Jeremie, Cap-Haitian, and Leogane and also as a faculty member at the Episcopal Nursing School in Leogane. She served internships in the Diocese of Upper South Carolina.

Bishop Ruth Woodliff-Stanley shared her joy about this new season of ministry at Voorhees University. “The Rev. Marie-Carmel Chery’s appointment is truly the work of the Holy Spirit,” said the bishop. “Her ministry in both church and university settings equips her to be an outstanding dean, chaplain, and vicar at Voorhees and St. Philip’s Chapel. Dean Chery’s deep walk with Jesus, her spiritual maturity and grounded leadership style, and her gracious spirit are gifts that will benefit students, faculty, and parishioners alike. With much joy, and with gratitude to the church in Haiti and in the Upper Diocese of South Carolina, I welcome Mother Chery into our Diocese and look forward to her leadership among us.”

In an announcement shared last week by Voorhees University, the school’s president, Dr. Ronnie Hopkins, expressed happiness about the new hire. “We are excited to welcome Dean Chery to Voorhees University,” said Hopkins.”  He noted that her rich background, unwavering commitment, and extensive experience make her an outstanding addition to the Voorhees community.  “Her leadership is set to provide invaluable guidance, inspiration, and spiritual direction to the university’s diverse student body, faculty, and staff. With her strong academic foundation and deep-rooted faith, Reverend Chery is poised to foster an environment where intellectual growth and spiritual development harmoniously converge.”

In the announcement, Voorhees University acknowledged the positive impact Dean Chery will bring to the institution and the broader community, noting: “Her appointment reinforces Voorhees’ commitment to providing a holistic education that nurtures the mind, body, and spirit.”

Dean Chery succeeds Dean Corey Smith in her new roles; Dean Smith stepped down in early 2023 due to health reasons. This position is being fully funded by The Episcopal Church through the actions of the Executive Council. Voorhees University, located in the Episcopal Diocese of South Carolina, is one of two historically black colleges and universities affiliated with The Episcopal Church.

Bishop Ruth Woodliff-Stanley has called the Rev. Gregory Hodgson to serve as interim rector of St. George's, Summerville as they continue to search for their next rector. 

In a note to the congregation shared in their last newsletter, Father Greg expressed gratitude about the call. "First, I am delighted and overjoyed to have been offered and to have accepted the call to serve as the Interim Rector here at St. George's," said Fr. Greg. "In the short time that I have served as Sunday supply, I have come to know you as a community with a strong heart to grow in the knowledge and love of God, of one another, and your engagement with the needs of the world around you."

Hodgson has served as a parish priest for almost 40 years serving congregations in South Carolina, as well as in the Dioceses of Southern Virginia, Massachusetts, and Long Island (in New York, where he was raised). ​