Rector

Father Benjamin Straley began as Rector of S. Stephen’s parish on 15 August 2020, the Feast of the Assumption. Prior to his call to S. Stephen’s, Fr. Benjamin served for two years as the Assistant Rector of St. John’s in Essex, Connecticut. While there, his primary focus was pastoral care along with Christian Formation and Adult Education. He was particularly passionate about forming deeper engagement with discipleship and spirituality. He also led the parish in a diocesan initiative called Joining Jesus in a New Missional Age, which worked to equip church members with the skills necessary to attend to the stories in their neighborhood, and to see what “God is up to” in the lives of those outside the church walls. Prior to ordained ministry, Fr. Benjamin was Associate Director of Music and Organist of Washington National Cathedral, and he is a graduate of the Yale School of Music and Berkeley Divinity School at Yale. In his free time, he enjoys cooking (being a huge Ina Garten devotee), British television, improving his sailing skills, and heaping affection on his pets: two cats named Charlie Brown and Linus, and an Australian Shepherd-Siberian Husky mix named Grace.  Grace is quickly becoming an ambassador for S. Stephen's as she encounters Brown University students around campus!

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email: rector@sstephens.org

Organist and Choirmaster

A dedicated and passionate church musician, L. Graham Schultz was appointed Organist & Choirmaster of S. Stephen’s in 2023. Previously, he was Interim Director of Music at the Church of the Incarnation in Dallas, Texas, where he oversaw a vibrant music program in one of the nation’s largest Episcopal Churches. Graham holds degrees from Southern Methodist University, the Cleveland Institute of Music, and Interlochen Arts Academy. In 2019 he earned the prestigious Fellowship certificate from the American Guild of Organists. Mr. Schultz has been heard on BBC Radio 3’s Choral Evensong, American Public Media’s Pipedreams, and national broadcasts of With Heart and Voice.

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Schultz has been featured as a performer at conventions of the American Guild of Organists, the Organ Historical Society, the Association of Anglican Musicians, and the Conference of Roman Catholic Cathedral Musicians, in addition to multiple appearances at the East Texas Pipe Organ Festival. He has served as course organists for courses of the Royal School of Church Music in both Charlotte and Dallas. His discography includes To Thee All Angels Cry Aloud, a recording of the sacred choral works of Benjamin Britten with the Cathedral of All Saints, Albany and Choral Evensong for Eastertide from the Church of the Incarnation. Mr. Schultz has played for numerous choral residencies in Britain including at the Cathedrals of York, Lincoln, Durham, Gloucester, Hereford, Rochester, and St. Patrick’s, Dublin. Previously, Mr. Schultz served as the Lloyd Cast Organ Fellow at the Cathedral of All Saints in Albany, NY where he was principal organist and assisted in overseeing the acclaimed Cathedral Choir of Men and Boys. Prior to his appoint in Albany, Schultz served as Organist & Choirmaster of S. James, Cleveland where he oversaw a storied music program steeped in the Anglo-Catholic tradition. He has studied organ with Stefan Engels, Todd Wilson, Thomas Bara, and Charlie Rigsby as well as harpsichord with James Richman and improvisation with George Baker. He is currently serving as co-chair of the 2023
Conference of Association of Anglican Musicians and as co-editor of the 2023 Dallas Hymnary.

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email: music@sstephens.org

Assisting Priest

Fr. Bill Locke was ordained as deacon and priest in Rhode Island by Bishop George Hunt. He served as Rector of the Church of the Good Shepherd and then St. Paul's Church, both in Pawtucket. For the past eight years he has been engaged in interim ministry, including a brief time at S. Stephen's. His wife Ethel teaches physics at Woonsocket High School. They have two adult daughters and two grandsons.

Assisting Priest

Fr. Michael Pearson was ordained to the Diaconate (1977) and the Priesthood (1978)  by Bishop William Weinhauer (Diocese of Western North Carolina).  He has served as the Curate at S. Stephen's Church, Providence (1977 - 1981), the Rector of the Church of the Epiphany, Providence,  Priest Associate at St. Mark's Church, New Canaan, Ct. (1989 - 1992), Rector of St. Luke's Church, Anchorage, Ky. (1992 - 2001), and St. Mary's Church, Wayne, Pa. (2001 - 2012).  Fr.  Pearson retired in 2013 and returned to Rhode Island where he has supplied at various parishes throughout the Diocese. He is married to Julie and they have one grown child.  

Assisting Priest

Mother Veronica Tierney was ordained deacon (2007) and priest (2008) in the Diocese of Los Angeles.  She began her ordained ministry as a doctoral student in Early Christian Theology at Boston College, earning her PhD in 2018. She has served as Assistant Chaplain at St. George’s School, Middletown, and as Priest-in-Charge at Christ Church, Lincoln and Saints Matthew and Mark, Barrington.  In 2021 she founded a consulting practice focused on helping faith communities improve the business aspects of their ministries.  Prior to ordained ministry, she worked in the investment management industry.  Her husband, Peter, serves St. James Episcopal and St. Mark Lutheran churches in Woonsocket, where they live with their dogs Cruz and Liza.

Sexton

Andrew oversees the weekly maintenance and "odd jobs" around the parish, and began working at S. Stephen's in 2021. His primary work is with the Episcopal Diocese of Rhode Island, helping to take care of its properties in Providence and Wickford, as well as the Episcopal Camp and Conference Center in Burrillville. Andrew is most often found at S. Stephen's on weekday afternoons, and is the father of "Little Drew," who sometimes accompanies him to S. Stephen's.

Bookkeeper and Financial Assistant

Jennifer moved to Providence in 2023 and is responsible for assisting the Treasurer in managing QuickBooks, employee payroll, and issuing payments to our various vendors. She is typically at S. Stephen's on Monday afternoons, and can be reached at finance@sstephens.org.

Finance Assistant

Cheryl comes from Fall River where she is also a bookkeeper for the local Congregational Church where she is a member. She is a proud mother and grandmother, and is typically found at S. Stephen's on Monday mornings unless there is a bank holiday. Cheryl does not have an sstephens.org email address, but any questions about your pledge payments or any checks sent to S. Stephen's can be sent to office@sstephens.org.