Emmanuel Calls The Reverend R Christopher Heying as Rector

After 20 years without a full-time priest and two years in search of the most fitting candidate, Emmanuel has called the Reverend R Christopher Heying to lead the parish. 

Father Heying (“Chris”) will come to us in October.  The rest of the family—wife Cindy and children Mary Grace, 13; John Luke, 10; and Patrick, 4—will follow after completing the school year.

Chris has been the rector of Saint Stephen’s in Forest, Virginia since 2004.  He has served various communities and churches in multiple ways.

Perhaps his most challenging and meaningful service was on and in the days following September 11, 2001 when, as curate at New York City’s Church of the Transfiguration, “The Little Church around the Corner,” near the World Trade Center, he tended to the emotionally, physically, mentally and spiritually shocked survivors of the September 11 attacks.

Other ways Chris has served his communities include university chaplain, mediator, and boarding school teacher and counselor.

He earned his Bachelor of Arts in English at the University of North Texas in Denton and his Master of Divinity at Nashotah House Theological Seminary near Milwaukee, Wisconsin.  He was ordained deacon and priest in 1998.

In addition to the Virginia and New York churches, Chris has served Saint Paul’s in Murfreesboro, Tennessee; and Saint Stephen’s, Wichita Falls; Saint John, Burkburnett; and Saint John’s, Forth Worth - all in Texas.

Father Heying will take up his duties at Emmanuel on October 1^st and celebrate his first Eucharist with us on Sunday, October 7^th. Read more about Father Heying in the September issue of The Pruden Parish Press

Please join us in welcoming Father Heying and his family to Chatham.