Interim Priest
The Right Reverend W. Nicholas Knisely, Bishop of Rhode Island.
We are delighted that Bishop Knisely has taken on the responsibility of overseeing our parish during this time of discernment and growth. Learn more about Bishop Knisely at www.episcopalri.org/meet-bishop-knisely/
The Right Reverend W. Nicholas Knisely, Bishop of Rhode Island.
We are delighted that Bishop Knisely has taken on the responsibility of overseeing our parish during this time of discernment and growth. Learn more about Bishop Knisely at www.episcopalri.org/meet-bishop-knisely/
Vicar
St. Paul's welcome with joy The Rev. Spencer Reece as Vicar. Fr. Spencer has returned to his New England roots after a long journey. Born in Hartford, Connecticut, he was reared in Minneapolis, Minnesota. He graduated from Wesleyan College where he majored in English Literature and studied “verse-writing” with Annie Dillard. Father Spencer went on to York University in the United Kingdom and studied the poetry of George Herbert, then Harvard Divinity to earn a degree in Theology. He then worked for Brooks Brothers for 12 years in sales and management. An internationally acclaimed poet, Guggenheim Fellow, long-list nominee for the National Book Award, Reece’s first manuscript, The Clerk’s Tale, was selected by Nobel Laureate Louise Glück.
Father Spencer returned to seminary at Berkeley, Yale, in mid-life and was ordained to the priesthood in Madrid, Spain, on October 2nd of 2011. He was subsequently awarded a Fulbright to teach poetry at Our Little Roses in San Pedro, Honduras, where he lived and worked with the abandoned girls at the orphanage. The work was made into an award-winning film, Voices Beyond the Wall: 12 Love Poems from the Murder Capital of the World. Father Spencer began to study and learn Spanish as a second language at this point.
He then moved to Madrid and assisted the Episcopal Bishop of Spain for seven years. During this time he also created an international author series called The Unamuno Author Series. His work and life there were almost entirely in Spanish. In 2020, he was called to be the interim priest-in-charge in Jackson Heights, Queens, New York, a bilingual parish. He remains an active author, having published three additional books and edited one. His third book of poems is set for publication in 2024.
Father Spencer is looking forward to returning to Rhode Island, with particular excitement about coming to know the people of St. Paul’s Wickford. He loves the words of Henri Frederic Amiel (1821-1881): “Life is short, be swift to love, and make haste to be kind.” His dream and prayer and goal for his time with St. Paul’s is to join the ongoing work of the parish in spreading Jesus’ radical love into every nook and corner of Wickford. “Let kindness be our legacy,” he said.
St. Paul's welcome with joy The Rev. Spencer Reece as Vicar. Fr. Spencer has returned to his New England roots after a long journey. Born in Hartford, Connecticut, he was reared in Minneapolis, Minnesota. He graduated from Wesleyan College where he majored in English Literature and studied “verse-writing” with Annie Dillard. Father Spencer went on to York University in the United Kingdom and studied the poetry of George Herbert, then Harvard Divinity to earn a degree in Theology. He then worked for Brooks Brothers for 12 years in sales and management. An internationally acclaimed poet, Guggenheim Fellow, long-list nominee for the National Book Award, Reece’s first manuscript, The Clerk’s Tale, was selected by Nobel Laureate Louise Glück.
Father Spencer returned to seminary at Berkeley, Yale, in mid-life and was ordained to the priesthood in Madrid, Spain, on October 2nd of 2011. He was subsequently awarded a Fulbright to teach poetry at Our Little Roses in San Pedro, Honduras, where he lived and worked with the abandoned girls at the orphanage. The work was made into an award-winning film, Voices Beyond the Wall: 12 Love Poems from the Murder Capital of the World. Father Spencer began to study and learn Spanish as a second language at this point.
He then moved to Madrid and assisted the Episcopal Bishop of Spain for seven years. During this time he also created an international author series called The Unamuno Author Series. His work and life there were almost entirely in Spanish. In 2020, he was called to be the interim priest-in-charge in Jackson Heights, Queens, New York, a bilingual parish. He remains an active author, having published three additional books and edited one. His third book of poems is set for publication in 2024.
Father Spencer is looking forward to returning to Rhode Island, with particular excitement about coming to know the people of St. Paul’s Wickford. He loves the words of Henri Frederic Amiel (1821-1881): “Life is short, be swift to love, and make haste to be kind.” His dream and prayer and goal for his time with St. Paul’s is to join the ongoing work of the parish in spreading Jesus’ radical love into every nook and corner of Wickford. “Let kindness be our legacy,” he said.
Vestry
Tony Petito, Senior Warden
Steve Elliott, Junior Warden
Tracy Wilkinson, Treasurer
Susan Aylward, Clerk
Andrew Correia
Camilla de Rochambeau
Dawn Roch
Paul Larrat
Sue Smith
Kent Wyman
Rob Zimmer
Tony Petito, Senior Warden
Steve Elliott, Junior Warden
Tracy Wilkinson, Treasurer
Susan Aylward, Clerk
Andrew Correia
Camilla de Rochambeau
Dawn Roch
Paul Larrat
Sue Smith
Kent Wyman
Rob Zimmer
