ABOUT ST. CHRISTOPHER'S

 

St. Christopher's is a growing parish in the Diocese of Atlanta.  Perry is the county seat of Houston County, one of the most rapidly growing areas of Georgia.

 

 

Rector

 

The Rev. Anne Meroney has been called to be the Rector at St. Christopher in January, 2009.

 

 

The temporal affairs of St. Christopher's are managed by two Wardens and the Vestry.  The Wardens and Vestry members for 2009 are:

  

 

 

Previous Rectors/Vicars at St. Christopher's

 

Rev. William A. Anderson (2004-08)

 

The Rev. William A. (Bill) Anderson joined St. Christopher's as Curate in June, 2003, serving with the Rector, the Rev. Canon John Buchanan.  Fr. Bill completed graduate work in Anglican Studies at the Candler School of Theology (Emory University) in Atlanta in June, 2005, and was ordained to the priesthood in October, 2003.  He was installed as Rector of St. Christopher’s in July, 2004.  He retired from that position on August 31, 2008.

 

Fr. Bill holds a BA in English from the University of Georgia and a MA from Roosevelt University.  He completed extensive graduate work in counseling (abd) at the University of South Carolina and holds certification in mediation from the State Bar of Georgia and the National Student Resource Association.  Fr. Bill served in the Navy from 1968-1971.  He had a thirty-year career as a teacher and college administrator at the University of South Carolina, Montana Tech, Washington State University, and the College of Charleston in South Carolina.

 

Throughout his life, Fr. Bill sought opportunities to serve God in the Episcopal Church, as Lay Reader, Stephen Minister, Vestry member, EYC leader, and Adult Christian Education teacher.  While working as Director of Community Outreach at the College of Charleston and serving as a Lay Eucharistic Minister at St. Andrews Episcopal Church in Charleston, Fr. Bill completed coursework for the Vocational Diaconate.  He was ordained a deacon in the Diocese of South Carolina on September 4, 1999 and accepted a call to the Church of Our Saviour on Johns Island, near Charleston.  He completed a program in Clinical Pastoral Education at the Bon Secours-St. Francis Health System for hospital chaplaincy certification in 2001.

 

Feeling a strong call to full-time ministry, Fr. Bill underwent discernment for the priesthood, retired from the College of Charleston and moved to the Diocese of Atlanta.  Since joining St. Christopher's, Fr. Bill has served as President of the Perry Ministerial Alliance, member of the Board of Governors for Appleton Ministries, and member of the Houston Medical Center Ethics Committee.  He is affiliated with Rotary International and the Perry Men’s Prayer Breakfast.

 

Fr. Bill and his wife Jane, a retired teacher, continue to live in Perry.  They have one son, Seth, a college technology liaison at the College of Charleston.

 

Rev. Canon John A. Buchanan (1995-2004)

 

Canon Buchanan was born on November 13, 1929 in Waco, Texas.  He was educated at Mercer University, Yale University, Southern Methodist University, and the Episcopal Theological Seminary of the Southwest.  After serving as a Southern Baptist minister, he was ordained a Deacon in 1970 and a Priest in 1971.  After serving churches in Fort Worth, Texas, he returned to Georgia, where he served St Stephen’s Church in Milledgeville, All Saints Church in Warner Robins, and St. Luke’s Church in Fort Valley.  He then went to Europe, serving as canon at the Cathedral of the Holy Trinity (the “American Cathedral”) in Paris and as interim rector at All Saints Church in Waterloo, Belgium, and St. James’ Church in Florence, Italy.  (Between his tenures in Paris and Waterloo, he returned to Georgia to serve at St. Francis’ Church in Macon.)  He returned from Italy to serve at St. Luke’s in Hawkinsville (in the Diocese of Georgia) and St. Mary’s Church in Montezuma before coming to St. Christopher’s.  He retired as rector of St. Christopher's in June, 2004.  He assisted at Christ Church in Macon until his death on July 22, 2006.  He is survived by the former Seaborn O’Neal.

 

Rev. Thomas L. Arledge, Jr. (1970-95)

 

Father Arledge was born on Oct. 6, 1930 in Chattanooga, Tenn.  He was educated at the University of Tennessee and the University of the South.  He was ordained a Deacon in 1970 and a Priest in 1971.  He served as vicar at St. Mary’s Church in Montezuma and at St. Christopher’s from 1970-95.  He became the priest in charge at St. Luke's Church in Hawkinsville and is currently the priest in charge of Christ Church in Cordele, Georgia, although he continues to live in Perry.  He is married to the former Lora Lee Pearson.

 

Rev. Graham Glover (1968-70)

 

After his service at St. Christopher's, Fr. Glover moved to St. Joseph's on the Mountain Episcopal Church in Mentone, Alabama.  He served as the rector of St. Joseph's until his death in 1984.

 

Rev. James R. Borom (1965-67)

 

Fr. Borom is currently retired in Eutawville, South Carolina.

 

Rev. Louis Parker (1965)

 

Rev. W. Russell Daniel (1964)

 

Rev. Hal S. Daniell, Jr.  (1960-64)

 

           Father Daniell was born on June 28, 1930 in Emory, Georgia.  He was educated at Georgia Tech and the Episcopal Theological Seminary of the Southwest.  He was ordained a Deacon and Priest in 1960.  He served as vicar at All Saint’s Church in Warner Robins and St. Christopher’s before becoming rector of St. Thomas’ Church in Columbus and Christ Church in Lexington, Kentucky.  His final parish was St. Anthony’s in Scottsdale, Arizona.  He retired in 1993 and lives in St. Simon’s Island, Georgia, where he assists at St. Mark’s Church in Brunswick.

 

Rev. Donald Mitchell (1959-60)

 

FINDING ST. CHRISTOPHER'S

 

If you are approaching Perry on I-75 from the north or south, exit at Exit 138 ("Thompson Road").  Go east on the Perry Parkway to the first traffic light (US 41/Macon Road).  Turn right and go about 1 1/2 miles.  St. Christophers is on the right.

 

If you are coming from Warner Robins on Georgia 127, follow 127 until it reaches Macon Road.  Turn right and go about a quarter of a mile.  St. Christopher's is on the left.