Staff and Vestry
With the retirement of Rev. Reid Hamilton, effective January 1, 2026, St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church has begun a formal search process to identify and welcome a new priest. In the interim, we will be served by supply priests and continue on with our regularly scheduled services, meetings and events.
Our visiting supply priest as of Sunday, March 8 will be Rev. John S. Nieman. Father (Fr.) John will be with us through the remainder of Lent and Holy Week, including Easter Sunday, April 5, 2026. He will be away for two weeks in mid-April and return to St. Andrew’s on April 26. Fr. John has served small, medium, and large churches in New Jersey, Maine, Michigan, and South Carolina, and has been an Episcopal Priest since 1987, when he was ordained in the Diocese of Newark. For about 10 years he was rector at Holy Trinity in Clemson. He now lives in Pendleton, SC. In addition to ministering to various parishes, he has held significant positions in several Episcopal Dioceses including serving on the Standing Committee. The members of the “Standing Committee” of a Diocese generally serve as the chief advisors for the bishop. He is trained in interim ministry, a ministry he focused on for seven years before his retirement in 2023. He is also a trained spiritual director. We welcome Fr. John to St. Andrew’s.
Carol
Volunteer Treasurer
Please note the Rev. Reid Hamilton has retired as of January 1, 2026. We extend a sincere Thank You to Father Reid. We love you dearly and you and Deb will be missed! Best wishes going forward. God Bless.
If you are interested in being considered as a candidate for our open parish Priest position, or if you would like more information on our view of the key attributes of our future priest, please click here.
If you would like to apply for our open Priest position, please click here.
Blondie WillinghamParish Administrator
2026 Vestry
Left to Right:
Karen (Clerk of Vestry), Alan, Renee, Helen, Amy, Rhea (Senior Warden), Nancy, Anita, Larry (Junior Warden), Margaret
VESTRY
The vestry is the legal representative of the parish and serves as its governing body. It is composed of elected lay members who work alongside the clergy to ensure the effective operation of the church. The vestry's primary responsibilities include:
Financial Management: Overseeing the parish's finances, including budgeting and fundraising.
Property Maintenance: Caring for and maintaining church facilities and properties.
Leadership Selection: Interviewing and calling a rector, as well as electing delegates to the annual diocesan convention.
Mission Support: Helping to define and articulate the mission of the congregation and supporting its activities.
The vestry typically consists of a senior warden, junior warden, treasurer, and secretary, along with other members elected by the congregation. The senior warden often acts as a liaison between the vestry and the rector, while the junior warden may oversee property-related matters. The number of vestry members and their terms can vary by parish, but they are usually elected at the annual parish meeting.