Rector
Rev. Dr. Koshy Mathews, our rector, was born in India and raised in the Mar Thoma tradition of the Eastern Orthodox Church. After coming to the United States in the early 1970s, he received his Master of Divinity degree from Princeton Theological Seminary, Master of Education from Harvard Graduate School of Education and Doctor of Ministry from Episcopal Divinity School, Cambridge, Massachusetts.

He and his wife Susan have two grown children: Ranjit, who with his wife Johanna, serves as associate rector in Milton, Massachusetts, and Manju, a graduate of Social Work at Columbia University, New York.

Fr. Mathews served as interim priest at Epiphany Parish, Walpole and St. Chrysostom, Wollaston, and as associate rector at Christ Church, Needham in the Massachusetts diocese. He accepted the call to serve as rector of St. Peter’s Church Phoenixville in January 2006.


Assisting clergy
Fr. David Hyatt, priest assistant at St. Peter’s, graduated from Philadelphia Divinity School in 1964, and has served as rector in several churches in the Greater Philadelphia area.

Fr. Hyatt and his wife Susan of 54 years have three children and several grandchildren. He is convener of the Natural Church Development committee at St. Peter’s and also serves on other committees.

Fr. Raymond Atlee has been assisting at St. Peter’s since 2006. He graduated from General Theological Seminary in NYC in 1958. He then served in the Diocese of Maryland for several years. He received an advanced degree in Systematic Theology from Nashotah House seminary in 1979. In 1973 he was called as rector of St. Mary’s in Wayne, Pennsylvania, where he served until his retirement in 1999.

In 1993, he was a candidate for Bishop in the Diocese of Pennsylvania. Fr. Atlee and his wife Anne have 3 daughters and 4 grandchildren.

VESTRY

St. Peter’s vestry has nine members, each serving a 3-year term, with the option of running for a second term. Each member serves as liaison to various committees, and the vestry meets monthly to conduct the business of the parish and address significant issues.

Current vestry

Anne Andrews- Jr. Warden, Growth, Fellowship
Bev Burkhardt - Worship, Pastoral Care
Cindy Hammaker - Mission
Gary Russell - Sr. Warden, Property, Youth Group, Capital Campaign
Geoff Scott - Outreach, Communication
Retta Sparano - Accounting Warden
Mary Tackett - New Member Ministry, Music, Women's Group
Clem Young - Men's Group
Henry Young - Christian Education



STAFF

Parish Secretary: Since March of 1996, Judith Dougherty has served as parish secretary. Her general office duties include answering phone and e-mails, preparing and printing Sunday bulletins, monthly newsletter, parish-wide mailings and individual letters as requested. She also maintains mailing lists, sends weekly parish-wide e-mails and provides administrative assistance to the rector and accounting warden.

Organist/Choir Director: We welcome our new Organist/Choirmaster, Nicholas Lodico, a native of Northern Virginia who has joined the staff at St. Peter’s in January 2010. Previously, Nick served as Organist/Minister of Music at St. John’s Episcopal Church in Centreville.,Virginia where he oversaw three choirs and other outreach ministries through the music program. At St. Peter’s, Nick will direct all aspects of the music ministry, which includes the choirs, playing the organ for worship and planning the music aspect of our liturgies.

Sexton: Maria De Lourdes Yanez joined the staff at St. Peter’s in June 2009 to serve as sexton. Her duties include general cleaning and upkeep of building areas, and other duties as requested by the property warden and rector.