Rector: The Very Reverend Kathleen Murray
The Very Reverend Kathleen Murray, our 25th Rector, leads Historic Beckford Parish, including St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church, Mount Jackson, and Emmanuel Episcopal Church, Woodstock. She joined us in 2017 from the Diocese of New Jersey.
Mother Kathy’s academic credentials include a Master of Divinity and a certificate in spiritual direction from The General Theological Seminary, and a Master of Public Administration from Columbia University. This combination of spiritual insight and organizational leadership extends beyond her role as Rector. She serves as the Dean of the Southern Shenandoah region of the Episcopal Diocese of Virginia, Chair of the Related Organizations Committee for the Diocese, and is the Diocese of Virginia clergy representative to Province III of The Episcopal Church.
Before her priesthood, Mother Kathy spent 25 years as a senior staff member of the Philadelphia City Council, building substantial expertise in education, government, redevelopment, and historical issues. This breadth of experience strengthens her leadership in our church and local community.
Honorary Assisting Priest: The Reverend Doctor Marian WIndel
Marian, daughter of the late Rosalie Eugenia Stuart and Glenn McInturff Windel, grew up in Bethesda Maryland. She attended Ohio as an undergraduate majoring in Sociology with a minor in Social Work graduating in 1969. In the fall of that year, Marian joined the Metropolitan Police Department. She worked five years in the Narcotic Branch and three years as a sergeant, most of that time in the Internal Affairs Division. While working in the police department she earned a Masters Degree from American University in Correctional Administration. In the fall of 1976, Marian began studies at Virginia Theological Seminary in Alexandria graduating with a Masters in Divinity in 1979. She was ordained on June 23, 1979, as a deacon and on December 23, 1979 as a priest. Marian has served churches in Chevy Chase. Maryland; Charles City County, Virginia; Mineral, Virginia; and Nelson County, Virginia. In retirement, she has served twice as an Interim at Westminster Canterbury of the Bue Ridge, Charlottesville, Virginia, and St, Luke’s Simeon, Virginia. Currently Marian is the Honorary Assisting Priest in Beckford Parish in the Shenandoah Valley where she lives at the foot of the mountains.
PARISH ORGANIST: Wilson Troxell
As a skilled organist, Wilson serves both our churches. With a B.A. in Music Performance from Longwood, he brings remarkable musical gifts that enrich our worship services.
Wilson loves the Episcopal Church liturgy and knows it well, so his selection of music always complements the seasons and the services. His ability to improvise amazes us all, and his inspiring music played as prelude, postlude, and offertory adds so much to everyone’s worship experience.
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