Rector

The Rev. Stephen Crippen

After nearly two decades as a psychotherapist, Stephen began his career as a priest in 2020 at Grace Episcopal Church, Bainbridge Island, serving first as their curate and then as interim rector. A Minnesota native, Stephen came to the Pacific Northwest in 1997 and, until 2003, balanced his psychotherapy work with the vocation of a Lutheran parish musician. He was confirmed in the Episcopal Church in 2005, ordained deacon in 2010, and served several parishes in the Diocese of Olympia (including St. Paul’s Seattle) and the Diocese of Virginia. Since 2010, Stephen has served the Diocese of Olympia as a congregational-development trainer and consultant. He lives in West Queen Anne with his husband Andrew and their canine companions, Keiko, Dash, and Flambeau.

Father Stephen maintains a schedule of open appointment times for those who would like to meet for conversation on any topic. If you have questions about St. Paul's, or you're doing personal discernment and want some pastoral connection, or you have any other reason to talk to Stephen, please send some preferred dates and times to stephen@stpaulseattle.org.

Curate

The Rev. Phillip Lienau

Phillip has served as Curate at St. Paul’s since July 2024. He was ordained to the priesthood June 2024, and the diaconate in 2023, having completed his MDiv. at the Church Divinity School of the Pacific. Phillip discerned a call to ordained ministry in, and was raised up by, Saint Mark’s Cathedral in Seattle. Prior to seminary, Phillip studied and worked in the fields of architecture and scenic design. Phillip’s scenic design career included designs for companies in Seattle and elsewhere, and a few years teaching at the University of Washington. Phillip lives in the Capitol Hill neighborhood of Seattle with his husband Jeremy.

If you would like to connect with Phillip, send an email to phillip@stpaulseattle.org.

Staff

Gary James
Director of Music

Gary James has served as organist/choirmaster at St. Paul’s since 1997. After graduate studies at the University of California at Berkeley, he was Composer-in-Residence at Linfield College in Oregon. He is a recipient of the Nicola de Lorenzo Prize and the ASCAP Raymond Hubble Award, and his compositions are published by ten publishers. His music has been performed throughout North America and in Europe, Asia, and Australia; including regional, national, and international gatherings of the American Guild of Organists, the Organ Historical Society, the Guild of Carillonneurs in North America, and the American Society of University Composers. His music was sung at both the opening and closing Eucharists of the 78th General Convention of the Episcopal Church in Salt Lake City in 2015, and at the installation of the Most Reverend Michael B. Curry as Presiding Bishop of the Episcopal Church at the National Cathedral in Washington, D.C., on All Saints Day 2015.

Emily Tweedie
Parish Administrator

Emily and her husband, Marcus, first moved to Queen Anne in 2004, where she studied English Literature at Seattle Pacific University. She now fills most of her time raising her three kids. Emily brings an impressive array of administrative, publication, and social media experience.

Barbara Potgieter
Treasurer

Barbara Potgieter grew up in South Africa as an Anglican. She moved to Seattle from New York a few years ago and immediately joined St Paul’s.  Her former careers have ranged from physicist, to computer systems design, to home schooling her three children, who are now all in college. In previous parishes she has been responsible for children’s formation, and she very much enjoys teaching the children and teenagers at St. Paul’s. Barbara loves opera, cooking, being outdoors, and shoes.

Daryl Schlick
Bookkeeper & Sunday Building Host

Daryl Schlick is retired and has been a parishioner at St. Paul’s since 1995. During his time at St. Paul’s, Daryl has served on the Vestry, been Senior Warden for two years, a counter for many years, Treasurer for approximately five years, and co-chairman of the Renovation Committee when the Nave was renovated. In his time away from St. Paul’s, Daryl spends time with Barbara Timms, his wife. Daryl is the President of the Board of Directors of their condominium and races a sailboat with the help of others.

We are blessed with a community of retired and bi-vocational clergy who regularly assist and preside during Sunday and weekday masses, provide occasional supply and pastoral coverage, as well as other support to the parish and its clergy as needed.

The Rev. Mary Jane Francis

After graduating college in 1958 Mary Jane worked in the field of science, receiving a Ph.D. in Epidemiologic Science (focused in virology) in 1970.  Her ordained ministry began in 1984 at Christ Church, Nashville, TN.  She has served congregations both in Tennessee and in the Seattle area. Since 1986 she has been an Associate of the (Benedictine) Community of St. Mary, Southern Province. Over the years she has chaired a Commission on Ministry, been a deputy to General Convention, been involved in developing diocesan norms and program designs around human sexuality, and chaired a Church Consultants Task Force. In the Diocese of Olympia she also has served on Diocesan Council, as Convenor of her Clericus, as the founding Convenor for the diocesan Team for Spiritual Formation, as a mentor/teacher/program designer for the Total Common Ministry Movement, as a Board Member, Faculty and an Interim Dean for the Diocesan School for Ministry and Theology.  Her passions include adult Christian formation and liturgy, Celtic spirituality, music, ballet, opera, native art, reading, and staying connected with friends across the country. She has been a Priest Associate at St. Paul’s since 2010.

The Rev. Catharine Reid

The Rev. Catharine Reid grew up outside Philadelphia, PA. She attended Smith College in Massachusetts, and earned an MSLS degree from Villanova University. She then moved to England where she was a member for two years of the Lee Abbey Community, a lay Christian community which runs a holiday and conference center on the north coast of Devon. From there she went on to study at Trinity Theological College in Bristol, England and earned her MDiv degree from The General Seminary in New York City.

Following seminary she was for six years a member of The Order of St. Helena, an Episcopal religious community for women. It was as a member of the order that she first came to live in Seattle.

A long time member of St. Paul’s, Seattle, she was sponsored by them for ordination  and was ordained to the priesthood in October 2011. She initially served as associate at St. Clement’s, Seattle and then for three years as an associate at St. Luke’s, Renton. In 2014, in addition to serving at St. Luke’s, she took on the role of Associate for the 5pm Liturgy at St. Paul’s, and in early 2015 became their Priest-in-Charge until the arrival of their new rector at the end of September 2015. From January 2016 through January 2022, she served as associate at St. Dunstan’s in Shoreline.

In addition to her work over the years she has volunteered at Virginia Mason Hospital, Chicken Soup Brigade and in the Diocese of Olympia archives. She currently sings with the Seattle Bach Choir, gardens, rows with Conibear Rowing Club and works on her 1906 house. Her Westie, Brodie, is a constant companion.

The Rev. Samuel Torvend

Father Samuel Torvend served as Priest Associate for Adult Faith Formation at St. Paul’s from 2009 to 2014, and as Priest-In-Charge from 2014 to 2015. From 2015 to 2021 he served as Associate Priest for Adult Formation at Christ Church Tacoma, and from 2021 through 2023 as their Interim Rector. Since 1998, Samuel has taught full-time at Pacific Lutheran University in Tacoma, retiring from teaching in 2022, but continuing to serve in the school’s Wild Hope Center for Vocation. He holds the Ph.D. in church history, with a specialization in sacraments and liturgy, and has taught liturgy courses at two midwestern seminaries and as an adjunct at Seattle University. He is the author of eight books that focus on liturgy and life, sacraments and social action, and worship and work, concerns that animate his faith and his work in adult formation. His next book is entitled, Jesus in Nature: A Monastic Christology.

The Parish Ministry Council (PMC) is a team of representatives from seven (eventually ten) ministries. They gather monthly and connect in other ways to share ideas, focus on parish-wide mission goals, support one another, and both broaden and deepen lay leadership across the parish. Click here to learn more about the PMC leadership structure.

Daryl Schlick
Building and Grounds Ministry

Laurel Tallent
Faith Formation Ministry

Laura Griffin
Liturgy and Music Ministry

BJ Ohlweiler
Neighborhood Action Ministry

John Sutherland
Newcomers and Membership Ministry

Lizann Jones
Parish Life Ministry

Barbara Potgieter
Stewardship Ministry

Click here to learn more about the vestry’s mutual ministry goals.

John Sutherland
Senior Warden

I grew up in the Lutheran church (my father was a pastor), but found my true spiritual home with the Episcopalians, particularly at St. Paul’s. I’ve been a member here since 1989. Somehow I have found myself on the vestry during every interim since then, including a stint as Senior Warden at the time we called Mother Melissa. I’ve also been involved in choral (and occasionally, instrumental) music here, bread baking, and too many other things to keep track of. I love this place, and I’m happy to serve its health and growth any way I can.

Liz Tallent
Junior Warden

I started regularly attending the 5pm service at St. Paul’s in 2021 with my partner Laurel. We were confirmed on May 1st, 2022. The community and liturgy at St. Paul’s has been a container for my grief, creating space for hope and joy even as I continue to heal and question through some challenging seasons. When I’m not working as a community health education manager at Fred Hutch, I’m collecting sea glass, admiring ferns, or being an emotional support human for two elderly rescue dogs.

Mary Baranowski

I was received into the St. Paul’s congregation on May 17, 2014.  I retired from King County Department of Natural Resources and Parks in 2007.  At St. Paul’s I have served as a lector, Eucharistic Visitor, a companion with the Art Heals project and a St. Paul office volunteer.  I enjoy playing golf, taking long walks with my husband Mike and my English cocker, Georgi, reading, and jewelry making.

Marjorie Diddams

I grew up at First Free Methodist Church, just on the north side of Queen Anne. As an undergrad at SPU, I visited several Anglican churches while on a study abroad in Europe and was captured by the tradition and beauty of the liturgy. I found my church home at St. Paul's in 2011 and knew fairly quickly that it felt right. I was confirmed in 2014, married my husband at St. Paul's, and my daughter was baptized in 2023. I have a particular love for Stations of the Cross, which I've participated in for several years. Professionally, I work in supplier quality at Seagen (now Pfizer), focusing on cancer therapies. In my free time, I enjoy traveling, eating, going to shows, reading sci-fi, and watching old Hollywood movies. 

Becky Hughes

I started attending St. Paul’s regularly in the fall of 2013, and in April 2015, I was confirmed in the Episcopal Church. My journey of faith has been a bit circuitous (it started in fundamentalism in the Panhandle of Texas), and I can attest to the tenacity of the Holy Spirit. I am grateful that God helped me find my home in Anglo-Catholicism with its rich liturgy, and I am especially thankful for St. Paul’s as a body of believers who seek to live out Christ’s love in the world. My faith has deepened through my study of history (my expertise is in British missionaries in Africa), and I teach at Seattle Pacific University. One of my goals is to integrate my vocation of teaching and learning with my church service. I have been a regular altar server the past 6 years and have contributed in other steady ways to our community. Participating on vestry feels like a meaningful next step. My husband and I live in Belltown, and we love to spend time with our two grown children.

Andrew Kronenwetter

St. Paul’s has been my home for 10 years but for the first five years or so I stayed pretty much in the shadows. I first stepped out by becoming a lector. I’ve served twice as a delegate to diocesan convention. I’m currently a member of our anti-racism commission and part of the homiletics group. I was honored to serve on the rector search committee. This church and this parish family have given more to me than I can express. I welcome the opportunity to give back by serving on the vestry.

Patrick Lynch

I am a long time member of St Paul’s, and have been a volunteer on several parish groups. Currently, I am a sacristan, one of the Sunday lectors, and a frequent reader at Morning Prayer. As Vestry member, I hope to continue and enhance the inclusive spiritual life of St Paul’s and to guide our parish into the future on a stable spiritual and financial footing.

Chris Magnusson

I've been an attendee and member of St. Paul's for almost 2 years now. My involvement so far has been with SPiN and on the liturgy team as a crucifer. I've been in a similar position to the vestry in my former life in the Orthodox tradition and enjoyed the opportunity to support parish life and goals. I would be honored to serve the wonderful community of St. Paul's in a similar fashion. I live in the Ballard/Greenwood area, am married, and have a 14yo child who you might have seen here a few times with me. They particularly enjoy helping out with SPiN - prepping food and helping put together snack bags for our unhoused neighbors. I'm the somewhat rare Seattle-born person, having grown up in the suburbs, gone to the UW, and have only lived outside of Seattle for a handful of years in my adult life. I care a lot about this city and am very happy to be a part of a parish that also cares about it. I like cooking, reading, biking, and the occasional backpacking trip.

Jeremy Whalen

Jeremy Whalen (he/him) has been attending Saint Paul's since winter of 2011. He often serves Sunday mornings as an acolyte. He is a strength and conditioning coach at a high school, and also coaches from his private gym. He enjoys canoeing, hiking, and brewing beer, and fosters puppies for Guide Dogs for the Blind. He lives in north Seattle with his wife Melissa and their current foster pup Sal.