BELLEFONTE - The Rev. Christopher V. Pyles has been called to serve as St. John's Episcopal Church's next rector. He will celebrate his first Eucharist there tomorrow.
The latest in a long line of priests who have served the church in its 174-year history, Pyles comes to St. John's from Philadelphia, where he was the associate rector at St. Luke's Church in the Germantown section of the city for more than three years. Prior to that, he served two years as the assistant to the rector at the Washington Memorial Chapel in Valley Forge.
He began his career as an editor with a legal publishing company and was ordained in 2005.
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Rev. Christopher Pyles
Pyles brings with him an expertise in pastoral care and adult education, but as the religious head of the parish, he will have a hand in all aspects of the parish ministry. He joins Deacon Alex Dyakiw, who has served the parish since his ordination in 2007.
The new rector is a priest associate of the Shrine of Our Lady of Walsingham in England and a member of the Society of Mary.
His appointment marks the end of a 16-month search process for St. John's. The Ven. Rev. Daniel Selvage retired from the position in July 2009 and now serves as the Episcopal chaplain at Penn State University.
The church is at 120 W. Lamb St.
