CLERGY & STAFF
The Rev. Claire Nevin-Field, Rector
I have had a lifelong fascination with Jesus and find following him to be: joyful, puzzling, funny, frustrating, humbling, deeply engaging, and life giving. Believing that Anne Lamott was right when she called laughter “carbonated holiness”, I love to laugh and find much humor and joy in life—and in church.
I was born in the northeast of England, and I’m delighted that my path has led me to Philadelphia and to St. Peter’s Church. In addition to being rector here, I am also a former nurse midwife and a mother of two daughters, Rachel and Ellie. My husband, Andrew, and I (and our three cats, Shakespeare, Hero, and Little Bits, and dog, Harriet) live near the church in Queen Village.
A lifelong Episcopalian, I love the beauty of worship at St. Peter’s (including the holy chaos that is the children’s and family service), and the Episcopal emphasis on “seeking and serving Christ in all people”, on being the hands and heart of Jesus for the world. I am especially passionate about Creation theology, the idea that all that exists is an expression of God’s own life, that we were created to be in relationship with all of God’s Creation, and the implications that idea has for how we live in this world.
I extend a warm invitation to you and your family to visit St. Peter’s for a Sunday service. Let us walk with you on your journey of faith.
The Rev. Sarah Hedgis-Kligerman, Associate Rector
I am a native of rural North Georgia and the oldest of four children, which means I use “y’all” and my big sister tendencies run deep. I was raised in the United Methodist Church, so I love hymn sings and rowdy sermons. From an early age, I felt a call to ministry, but a lot of people told me, quickly and definitely: girls do not grow up to be pastors. However, despite many naysayers, my pastor nurtured my sense of call. His encouragement strengthened me and changed my life.
For seminary, I went to Emory University’s Candler School of Theology, and a few years later I completed a Diploma in Anglican Studies from the General Theological Seminary in New York City. I am married to Roger, a fourth generation Philadelphian, and we have a wonderful and eccentric dog named Summah.
As a priest, I feel most drawn to empowering people to express their gifts, in church and in life. I love finding ways to reclaim the Bible with joy and integrity, especially the psalms. I am committed to dismantling white supremacy—our country’s most overlooked and excused sin.
We are not perfect. We are complicated people with messy lives. But we seek to ground our messy lives in Christ’s presence and his call to love God and love our neighbor (and even love ourselves). We welcome, discern, pray, laugh, cry, serve, forgive, advocate, heal, gather, worship, and celebrate, as we walk this journey of faith together.
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 Assistance 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.
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.
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.
