Father Bob to serve as a Priest Associate

Dear Friends,

With vestry approval, I have invited Father Bob to serve as a Priest Associate. He will be assisting with worship, pastoral care, and formation, as needed. I am thrilled to have him as a clergy colleague and look forward to the gifts he will offer the congregation.

Emily +

Get to know our Priest Associate -

Rev. Bob Brown

A life-long Episcopalian, Fr. Bob was a late vocation to the ordained ministry of the church. Trained at the Lutheran Seminary of Philadelphia and the General (Episcopal) Seminary in New York City, he completed his studies in 1996 and was awarded a Master of Divinity (MDiv) degree in May. His ordination by Bishop Alan Bartlett followed in June. He served Saint Gabriel’s Church in Olney as deacon and priest under the mentorship of the Rev. Mary Laney.

He was called to be the rector of Saint Faith Church in Havertown and began his ministry on Easter Sunday, 1998. It was there that he instituted many innovative worship and educational opportunities for the people and children of the parish. Required to retire at age 72, he left Saint Faith community and moved to the Diocese of North Carolina where he served the people of Saint Mary Magdalene mission in Seven Lakes, NC as vicar for sixteen years. He then “retired” a second time to serve the church as supply priest at Sunday Eucharist services for congregations in the Sandhills Deanery. After five years he returned to his roots in Pennsylvania with his wife, Jean (Colesberry), and now lives at Brittany Pointe Estates in Lansdale.

Fr. Bob and Jean have been married since 1957 and have four adult children; Cynthia Jean Brown of Covington, Louisiana, Scott Colesberry Brown of Cary, North Carolina, Christopher Parker Brown of Blue Bell, PA and Stephen Reynolds Brown of Oreland, PA. Together they also raised five miniature black and tan Dachshunds during their married life.

Bob is looking forward to minister to the people of Messiah Church with his colleague and friend, the Rev. Emily Given, rector of the Messiah Church congregation.