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The Rev'd Christopher L. Epperson, Rector

Chris was called as 35th rector of Bruton Parish Church in 2011. Ordained an Episcopal priest in 1999, he previously served parishes in Rhode Island, Atlanta and East Tennessee. Since his arrival, Bruton Parish has engaged in new ways of sharing its history, with creation of the group Friends of Bruton, and opening of the Heritage Center in the 1938 parish house. In 2015, Bruton Parish observed the 300th anniversary of the church building with a program of distinguished speakers and preachers, leading to a comprehensive campaign and commission of a new pipe organ for the church. Chris has steered growth of The Episcopal Church at William and Mary (Canterbury) and formation of community partnerships with SpiritWorks Foundation, Community of Faith Mission, and Habitat for Humanity. Chris is an avid reader and competitive cyclist. He and his wife Laura Burbank Epperson enjoy travel and activities that come with raising three school-aged children -- a son and two daughters. A native of Tennessee, Chris received a Bachelors degree from the University of Tennessee and Masters of Divinity from General Theological Seminary, New York, NY. 

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The Rev'd Charles H. Bauer, Associate Rector Christian Formation


The Rev'd Charlie Bauer serves the children, youth, and family communities at Bruton Parish, is Chaplain to the Episcopal Church at the College of William & Mary (Canterbury), and coordinates adult formation. A native of southeastern Wisconsin, Charlie first arrived in Williamsburg to attend the College of William & Mary, and graduated with a Bachelor of Arts, concentrating in medieval music theory. He was an active member of Canterbury throughout his undergraduate years. He left to attend seminary in New York City in 2013, graduating from The General Theological Seminary in 2016 with a Master of Divinity. Ordained in 2016, Charlie previously served as the Curate at Hickory Neck Episcopal Church in Toano, VA. Charlie is active in ministry beyond the parish, serving on the Board of Directors for Chanco on the James, and is a member of the diocesan Disciplinary Board, Program, Budget, & Review Committee, and chairs the Credentials Committee. Charlie is married to Kelly, a Williamsburg native and William & Mary graduate. She is a local pre-school teacher. Together, they have two young daughters and one cat. Charlie enjoys hiking, cooking, and is an avid fan of his hometown Milwaukee Brewers baseball team. He has a passion for uplifting all persons in ministry and discovering new ways for us all to engage in our faith.

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The Rev'd Lauren M. McDonald, Associate Rector Outreach & Women's Ministries

The Rev. Lauren McDonald joined the staff of Bruton Parish in May of 2016 as a part-time Associate. In addition to working with Mission and Outreach and Women’s Ministries, Lauren leads labyrinth walks, online Bible studies, book groups, and retreats. She also serves as the Director of Spiritual and Community Programming at SpiritWorks Foundation, a recovery community organization in Williamsburg for individuals and families healing from the disease of addiction. One of her favorite ministires is planning and leading the First Fridays Recovery Eucharist, hosted by SpiritWorks and held at Bruton. Previously Lauren served as the Associate Rector at Hickory Neck Church in Toano and as the Episcopal Chaplain to Christopher Newport University. Ordained a priest in 2008, Lauren received her Master of Divinity degree from Seabury Western Theological Seminary. Her first vocation was to the theatre, receiving her B.A. in Theatre from the University of the South in Sewanee, TN and then working as a professional stage manager for 15 years, including 12 years at Virginia Stage Company in Norfolk. Born and raised in Georgia, Lauren considers Virginia her adult home. She enjoys exploring spiritual practices, hiking, reading, writing, and snuggling with her two cats, Spirit and Shadow. 

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The Venerable Jan M. Brown, Deacon

Jan M. Brown is the Founding/Executive Director of SpiritWorks Foundation Center for the Soul, a community recovery organization located in Williamsburg, VA. Jan graduated from the College of William and Mary with a BA in Psychology, is certified as a Recovery Support Specialist and is one of four people in the country certified as a Master Recovery Life Coach. She is also an Addictions Educator and sought-after speaker on topics of addiction, brain injury and recovery management. She serves on the Board of Recovery Ministries of the Episcopal Church, the Board of Faces and Voices of Recovery, the SAMHSA BRSS-TACS Steering Committee and co-chairs the Addictions and Recovery Commission for the Diocese of Southern Virginia. In 2014 she was appointed by the Governor of Virginia and serves on the Governor’s Task Force on Prescription Drug and Heroin Abuse.  In 2015 Jan was appointed by the Presiding Bishop to serve on the Commission on Impairment and Leadership. Jan was ordained to the Sacred Order of Deacons by The Rt. Rev'd Herman Hollerith IV, Bishop of the Diocese of Southern Virginia, on Saturday, April 16, 2016 at Christ Church in Richmond, Virginia. 

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