All staff may be reached by calling St. Mary's at 703.527.6800.
Please click on the staff names to send them an email.
Fr. Andrew Merrow - Rector
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 BerkleyDivinitySchool 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 20s and 30s, 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.
Gregory Hooker - Minister of Music
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 is currently in the final stages of completing his Doctor of Music in organ and church music at Indiana University.
Matt Centers - Youth Minister Matt is the most recent addition to the staff at St. Mary's, beginning his ministry in April 2010. He oversees the formation of young people in Christ and serves as a mentor and spiritual guide to our youth in junior and senior high. Matt attended the York College of Pennsylvania seeking a degree in English Literature before taking time off to serve as the 20th Clerk to the Rt. Rev. Peter James Lee, the retired Bishop of Virginia. In his free time, he enjoys listening to, writing, and making music of all different kinds with his guitars, Inga and Francesca.
Pamela Frick - Administrator
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.
Bethany Cramer - Assistant Administrator Bethany came to work for Saint Mary's in August of 2008. She maintains the calendar, makes weekly schedule updates to the website, designs the layout for the Messenger each month, and is the staff Wedding Coordinator. Bethany earned a BA in Design Communications from Belmont University in Nashville, TN and worked as a graphic designer in Nashville before moving to Virginia. When not working at St. Mary's, Bethany spends most of her time cooking and is involved at Christ Church Episcopal in Alexandria where her husband is serving as a clergy resident.
Mary Beth Emerson - Outreach Coordinator
Mary Beth was called to serve as Outreach Coordinator at St. Mary's in 2006. She coordinates our extensive outreach ministries with over 70 different active ministries and also serves in many other capacities, helping to coordinate hospitality and our lay eucharistic ministers. Mary Beth also served as Youth Minister at St. Mary's for 6 years and holds a degree in youth ministry from the Seminary of the Southwest in Austin, Texas. Before coming to St. Mary's, Mary Beth served for 2 years as youth minister at Resurrection Episcopal Church in Alexandria, Virginia. She is currently in the discernment process in the Diocese of Virginia to be ordained as a vocational deacon.
Jane Shafran - Facilities Manager
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.
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.
