Welcome Our New Rector
September 14, 2026
Dear Friends in Christ:
It is with immense joy and gratitude that we introduce The Rev. Dr. Christopher A. Beeley as the next Rector of St. John’s Church. We look forward with great anticipation to November 1st when we welcome Christopher on his first Sunday with us.
Dr. Beeley currently serves as Priest-in-Charge of Ware Episcopal Church in Gloucester, Virginia, where he has brought his pastoral gifts, theological depth, and love for the life of the local church. His ministry reflects a deep commitment to helping congregations grow in their relationship with Christ and in their calling to serve God and their communities.
Christopher brings a wealth of experience to this ministry. He has previously served as Rector of the Church of the Incarnation in Dallas, and he has also served as Director of the Anglican Episcopal House of Studies at Duke Divinity School, after teaching for many years at Yale Divinity School. His experience in both parish ministry and theological education gives him a distinctive combination of pastoral wisdom, academic insight, and a deep understanding of the Anglican tradition. Christopher is married with three adult children. He loves music, golf, skiing, and generally spending time outdoors. A graduate of Washington and Lee, he is deeply familiar with the beauty of the Blue Ridge Mountains and the Diocese of Southwestern Virginia.
Over the last eight months, our Search Committee has been diligently and prayerfully discerning God’s will to present Christopher as their top candidate. They deserve our thanks for their leadership and dedication to this process. As we have prayed and discerned about the future leadership of St. John’s, we have sought someone who could build upon the many gifts and traditions of our parish while helping us faithfully embrace the opportunities God is placing before us. We believe Christopher brings the spiritual maturity, pastoral care, leadership, and theological perspective that will serve St. John’s well in the years ahead.
A new Rector marks an important moment in the life of any parish. It is a time to give thanks for those who have served us in the past, to celebrate the ministry God has entrusted to St. John’s in the present, and to look forward with hope and joy to the next chapter of our life together. We are excited about welcoming Dr. Beeley as our next Rector and beginning that journey together.
We encourage everyone in the St. John’s family to take the opportunity to meet Christopher, hear his story, and learn more about his vision for ministry. We hope you will join us in welcoming Christopher warmly and prayerfully.
Above all, we ask for your continued prayers—for Christopher and his family, for the people of St. John’s, and for God’s guidance as we move forward together. We trust that the Holy Spirit is at work among us, and we look forward with confidence and anticipation to all that God has in store for our parish.
With gratitude and hope in Christ,
Ellen Edmunds
Senior Warden
St. John’s Episcopal Church