CLERGY & STAFF
The Rev. Dr. Clarke French, Interim Rector
The Reverend Dr. Clarke French was ordained 24 years ago in the Anglican Church of Canada, the sister denomination of The Episcopal Church to the north. He has served parishes large and small, rural and urban.
Before coming to St. Peter’s, he served for 12 years as rector of Church of the Holy Family in Chapel Hill, NC. Clarke and his wife Sally have two children, Jack, 17, and Libby, 13.
The Rev. Sarah Hedgis-Kligerman, Associate Rector
REV. DR. JOSEPH SCHALLER
Joe and his husband Phillip Bennett have been actively involved in the life of St. Peter’s for over 20 years. A former Jesuit priest, now an Episcopal priest, Joe is a psychologist in private practice. He also assists at St. Gabriel’s Church in Philadelphia and St. Mary’s Church in Ardmore.
Kate has been parish administrator at St Peter’s since 1997. She and her husband, Mark, were introduced to St. Peter’s earlier in that decade when their son, Clint, started singing in the choir. She lives in Center City and has – for no apparent reason in retrospect – a master’s degree in history from Duquesne University.
Dr. Thompson leads our music program and conducts the St. Peter’s Choir at Sunday worship services. He also serves on the faculty at Albright College in Reading, Pennsylvania, as Assistant Professor of Music and Director of Choral Activities, and previously worked at Delaware State University, where he was Music Program Director and Director of Choral Activities.
Lauri manages the church website, email communications, graphic design, fundraising, and organizes special outreach events and projects for St. Peter’s. She and her husband, Chris, and their three children have been members of St. Peter’s Church since 2009.
William was born and raised in the Philippines. After obtaining a degree in Psychology, he moved to the United States to pursue music degrees at Indiana University. He has an active career as a musician—singing for various professional choral groups and opera productions in the region.
CHARLES JOHNSON
Professor Johnson, M.Ed, has more than 30 years experience in music and is an Assistant Professor at Drexel University where he leads the Gospel Choir, as well as Adjunct Faculty at the University of Pennsylvania. He has served as past Music Director/Organist to the General Association of Baptists in Kentucky and the Alabama Association of Baptists. Most recently, Professor Johnson served as Organist/Minister of Music of historic Mount Carmel Baptist Church in West Philadelphia.
DANIELLE DEFASSIO
Danielle grew up as a pastor’s kid in the Lutheran Church, where her love of music blossomed. She is an actor, primarily focusing on Theatre for Young Audiences, and has performed all over the US and Canada. She has taught early childhood development classes in New York City, and has also worked as a teaching artist in both NYC and Philadelphia.
Mara moved to Philadelphia to get her Master’s degree in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages or TESOL at the University of Pennsylvania after spending four years teaching in Tokyo. She has worked both teaching and administering ESL programs. She is passionate about feeding people and has volunteered at local food cupboards and soup kitchens.
BEN LEAPHART
MARY CAMPBELL
Mary is a CPA who has had her own accounting practice in Philadelphia since 2007. A native of Delaware, she received her B.S. in accounting from the University of Delaware. Mary provides her clients, primarily non-profits, with accounting, financial reporting and bookkeeping services. She lives in Center City and has one son who lives near Atlanta.