Fr. Merrow was called to be St. Mary's rector in 1985. Fr. Merrow is committed to outreach and while at St. Mary's has led the parish to commit 25% of its annual budget to outreach. Fr. Merrow is also committed to worship and liturgy and teaches a liturgical practicum for seminarians at the Virginia Theological Seminiary, his alma mater. Next to Virginia Seminary, Fr. Merrow holds a degree in English from the University of Vermont and has also studied at Cambridge University in England while on a sabbatical. Before his call as rector of St. Mary's, Fr. Merrow served at Christ Church, Alexandria after growing up at Grace Church in Alexandria where his father served as rector for many years.
Anne was called to St. Mary’s in the summer of 2009. Previously, she served as Priest Associate at Grace Church in Amherst, MA, where her ministry focused on children, youth, and families. Anne also served as Assistant Rector at Grace Church in Alexandria, VA. Anne holds degrees from Berkley Divinity School at Yale and the Shakespeare Institute (University of Birmingham), England. Prior to ordination, Anne worked at the Folger Shakespeare Library, coordinating local educational outreach programs. At St. Mary’s, her ministry includes support for Christian formation, newcomers, and families. Anne works part-time at St. Mary’s in order to honor her other vocation as mother of two young children.
On behalf of my wife Leslie and my son Ian, I would like to thank Rev. Merrow and the Vestry for calling me to minister together with all of you here at St. Mary’s. I have spent my entire life in the Northern Virginian area, with the exceptions of my family being stationed in Germany when I was in grade school, and my college attendance in Pennsylvania.
I have spent 20 years working for the government as a therapist and a program and organizational specialist. I am currently a licensed counselor in DC and have maintained a small private practice for the past 13 years. Following the events of 9/11, I was recruited to work for the Central Intelligence Agency where I spent 4 years serving in the Employee Assistance Program (EAP). I was responsible for providing counseling, support and crisis management to all levels of staff and management. I left the agency in 2006 to attend Virginia Theological Seminary and received my Master’s in Divinity this past May. I was ordained as a Priest in the Diocese of Washington, DC on January 16, 2010. My wife Leslie and I just celebrated our 17th wedding anniversary on June 28th. She works as a counselor for Fairfax County Juvenile and Domestic Relations Court. We have one son Ian who is a sophomore at St. Stephen’s and St. Agnes. For the past 10 years we have attended St. Patrick’s Episcopal Church in DC and where my son attended the day school through the 8th grade.
Fr. Runkle joined the staff of St. Mary’s in 2010 and focuses primarily on matters regarding parish administration, stewardship, finance, and facilities. As an Episcopal priest, he has served a number of parishes in Virginia, North Carolina and Tennessee since being ordained in 1999. As a historical architect, his career represents a devotion to the care and interpretation of architectural and cultural landmarks. From serving as a staff architect at the Colonial Williamsburg Foundation, to surveying the archaeological sites of medieval Islamic settlements in the Sahara of North Africa, to consulting with churches and dioceses on being good stewards of their buildings, his architectural experience spans over twenty-five years. Most recently, Fr. Runkle served as the Cathedral Conservator at Washington National Cathedral where he was responsible for the preservation and conservation of the Cathedral’s building fabric, as well as the management of its fine arts collections. In 1999, Fr. Runkle received his Master in Divinity from the University of the South in Sewanee, Tennessee; preceded in 1984 by a Bachelor of Architecture, with honors, from the University of Tennessee and a Bachelor of Art, magna cum laude, from Mary Baldwin College.
The Rev. Grant Ambrose
Grant joined the staff at St. Mary’s in July 2011 after having served as seminarian intern since the Fall of 2009. Prior to coming to St. Mary’s, Grant worked with the North Carolina Department of Cultural Resources Division of Archives and History as an historic interpreter at Somerset Place State Historic Site, Creswell, NC. Before working there, Grant taught Advanced Placed English and Western Civilization at Lawrence Academy in Bertie County, NC. Grant double majored in English and history at North Carolina Wesleyan College, and received his Master in Divinity from Virginia Theological Seminary. Grant has completed a course of study at St. George’s College, Jerusalem. Grant comes to St. Mary’s from the Diocese of East Carolina.
Gregory joined the St. Mary's staff in 2003. Prior to his call to St. Mary's, Gregory was Associate Director of Music and Organist at the Cathedral Church of the Advent, Birmingham, Alabama. He has also served at St. Paul's Cathedral in Buffalo, New York. Gregory received his Master of Music degree at the College Conservatory of Music/University of Cincinnati and also holds a Master of Church Music degree from Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, Kentucky. Gregory received his Doctor of Music in organ and church music at Indiana University in May of 2010.
Pam has served as administrator at St. Mary's since 1996 and has been a member of the parish since 1985. She works primarily in the areas of worship, membership, and Christian formation - overseeing and training St. Mary's lay readers, among many other tasks. She holds a Master of Theological Studies with an emphasis in Scripture from the Virginia Theological Seminary. She is a graduate of Circle in the Square Drama School in NYC and also holds a B.A. in theater. Pam has been a church school teacher, served on the Vestry, and is a theological story-teller.
Claudia Boswell - Church School Coordinator
Claudia has served as Church School Coordinator at St. Mary's for over 20 years. She oversees teacher support and curriculum for all church school classes from our 3 year olds through 5th grade. Claudia helps to lead Children's Chapel during our 9am service for our little ones ages 3-5 and helps to coordinate our Youth Sunday service every June. Claudia also serves as a lay reader at St. Mary's and with her family, has been a member of St. Mary's for over 30 years.
Jane has served at St. Mary's since 1999. Jane has served in many different capacities at St. Mary's including sexton and outreach coordinator for many years. Jane not only oversees the buildings and grounds of the church proper, but the buildings and grounds of St. Mary's four rental properties, as well. Jane continues to work with the Outreach Committee at St. Mary's and coordinate assistance offered at St. Mary's each week. Jane also helps with fellowship and serves with and helps to lead St. Joseph's Ministry and our annual Rebuilding Together. For many of the past years at our annual parish weekend at Shrine Mont, Jane has demonstrated her athletic ability and phenomenal golfing skills to win the coveted banana putter.
