With sadness we share the news that the Rev. Len Williams died on Monday, May 13. Father Len most recently served as interim priest-in-charge of Epiphany, Summerville, and was chaplain emeritus of the Charleston Port and Seafarers’ Society. A Celebration of Life will be held at Grace Church Cathedral in Charleston on Saturday, May 25, at 11 am. Please keep his wife, Angela, and their family, in your prayers as we remember the blessing he was in the lives of so many.  "Father Len was a gifted and faithful priest," said Bishop Ruth Woodliff-Stanley. "He served in the Diocese of ..read more

It was announced at St. Mark’s Episcopal Church in Charleston on Sunday, April 28, 2024, that on April 26, Bishop Ruth Woodliff-Stanley formally accepted B. Shawan Gillians as a postulant for Holy Orders. Shawan, a practicing attorney, received her juris doctor from the College of William and Mary in 2007 and an MBA from the University of South Carolina in 2016. She has worshiped at St. Mark’s for more than a decade and has served in various capacities within the congregation, including as senior warden. Parishioners at St. Mark’s gathered around to lay hands on Shawan this past Sunday, as F ..read more

The Right Reverend Ruth Woodliff-Stanley has appointed Stephenie Benes as Diocesan Comptroller, effective May 7, 2024. “Stephenie comes to our team with all the skills we need to take us to the next level in the financial management of our diocese,” said Bishop Woodliff-Stanley. “Her work will support churches across the diocese as faithful stewards of their resources and will help us accomplish our diocesan goals in the mission of the gospel. I am thrilled to welcome her as she begins this vital ministry.”   As diocesan comptroller, Stephenie will serve on the bishop’s staff on a full ..read more

Clergy of the Diocese of South Carolina are invited to attend this year’s Clergy Retreat April 28-30, 2024, at St. Christopher Camp & Conference Center. Clergy should have already received an email invitation with details and a link to registration, also available at this link. The retreat—previously known as Clergy Conference—is the annual gathering of active and retired priests and deacons serving in our diocese, hosted by the bishop and usually including presentations from a special guest speaker. This year’s speaker is the Reverend Dr. Amy Bentley Lamborn, who will give a series of r ..read more

Good Shepherd, Sumter hosted a demonstration by Ukrainian-born, Pysanka folk artist Yevheniia Bazaliy as part of its Easter weekend celebrations. Bazaliy's two-hour demonstration included an introduction to tools and materials—beeswax, dyes, eggshells and kistka (wax stylus)—and to the process of drawing the design on the egg, applying wax to enhance the design, and dipping the egg in dyes to create patterns and color contrasts.   Pysanka is a unique and beautiful art form that involves using melted beeswax to draw designs on eggs, which are then dyed in layers to create stunning an ..read more

The Rev. Roy Hills, who has served St. James-Santee, McClellanville as priest-in-charge since October 2020, recently announced to the congregation his plans to retire from this role in the coming months. Fr. Hills has been working with Bishop Ruth Woodliff-Stanley and Canon Philip Linder on the details of his retirement and the transition process, but he hopes to complete his time at St. James-Santee by his 34th ordination anniversary on June 1, 2024.  In his announcement to the congregation, Fr. Hills expressed his gratitude to the people of St. James-Santee. "In my nearly four years w ..read more

Bishop Ruth Woodliff-Stanley and all the members of her staff gathered for their annual retreat at St. Christopher Camp and Conference Center March 11-12, 2024. Aside from opportunities for fellowship, prayer, and rest, the team used this time together to take an in-depth look at their collective work.   After time spent in prayer and “checking in,” the staff turned their attention to fine-tuning how each member would contribute to the implementation of the Strategic Vision adopted by the previous diocesan convention. While a great deal has been accomplished already, staff members discu ..read more

The Right Reverend Ruth Woodliff-Stanley has called the Reverend John Robert Spainhour to serve as priest-in-charge of The Church of the Epiphany in Summerville. While Father Rob most recently served in the Diocese of Vermont, his ministry in The Episcopal Church began in the Diocese of South Carolina and he is grateful to return to where he has spent much of his life. Bishop Woodliff-Stanley is thankful for the experience Father Rob brings to Epiphany, Summerville, where the Rev. Len Williams has served the congregation faithfully for a number of years. “I am so grateful for the gracious an ..read more

With the enthusiastic support of its vestry, Bishop Ruth Woodliff-Stanley has called Michael Crandall as rector of St. George’s Episcopal Church in Summerville. He brings a unique background and ministry to this call, and the people of St. George’s are excited to welcome him and his family to their congregation in June. ​ Following 26 years of ministry in the Baptist church, Crandall’s faith journey led him to service in the United States Navy Chaplain Corps in 2017. During his time as chaplain, and with the support of the Diocese of Hawaii, he discerned a call to continue his ministry in The ..read more

Bishop Ruth Woodliff-Stanley has called the Rev. Kevin Sparrow to serve as the second rector of St. Anne’s Episcopal Church in Conway. Though he was raised in Georgia, Father Sparrow will be moving to South Carolina from Montpelier, Vermont, where he has served since September 2021 as the priest-in-charge of Christ Episcopal Church. His start date with St. Anne’s is still being finalized but will be announced soon. The bishop expressed her great joy about this call to St. Anne’s. “Through the perseverance, clarity, and patience of the strong leaders of St Anne’s, the Holy Spirit has worked t ..read more