Our Ministerial TeamThe staff at St. Andrew's
Episcopal Church strives to bring God's Word to you in a variety of
ways through its clergy and staff members.
Mother Bennett was ordained to the priesthood in January of 1990. She
graduated from Aquinas Institute of Theology in 1988, having completed a
Master's Degree in Divinity and a Master's Degree in Systematic
Theology (with honors). She did further work at Seabury-Western
(Episcopal) Theological Seminary, in Evanston, Illinois, and received
her Doctorate in Anglican Ministry there in 1993. The Rev. Virginia Bennett, Rector Before being called as Rector of St. Andrew's in December of 1995, Mother Bennett served parishes in Missouri, South Carolina and Kansas. Mother Bennett has two grown daughters and five grandchildren.  The Rev. Canon
George E. Pence, Assisting PriestThe Rev. Canon George E. Pence was born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin in 1939 and grew up in Chicago. He earned a B.A. in History and Philosophy at McKendree University, an M.A.in Social Science from the University of Illinois, an M.T.S. from Seabury-Western Theological Seminary in Church History and Ethics and a Ph.D. in Administration of Higher Education and Statistics from St. Louis University. Fr. Pence is a late vocation priest, coming to the Priesthood at age 40, after a career as a University Professor and Administrator. He was ordained Priest in the Diocese of Central Florida in 1979. Since ordination, he has served Parishes in Texas, Florida, Wisconsin, and Illinois and his last two assignments were as Rector, St. John's, Kewanee, IL, and as Canon Administrator/Treasurer, Diocese of Quincy (IL). Fr. Pence retired from full time ministry in 2001 and subsequently began serving as Assisting Priest at St. Andrew's. Currently, he is serving as the interim priest at two nearby mission churches. At St. Andrew's, Fr. Pence assists with pastoral care in the Parish by working with the Prayer Group, celebrates Mass on the first Tuesday of each month and helps with visitation to parishioners in the hospital and home bound. Fr. Pence and his wife Ione will be celebrating 50 years of marriage in December 2012.  Henry Evans, Organist and
Choir MasterHenry Evans has been organist and choirmaster at Saint Andrew’s since 2003. He holds the Bachelor of Music degree from Southern Illinois University Edwardsville and the Master of Music degree from the University of North Texas. From 2002 through 2003 he held the organ scholar fellowship at Church of the Incarnation (Episcopal) in Dallas, Texas. While at Church of the Incarnation, he learned the ancient and modern music of the Anglican church, played the organ and conducted choirs. His teachers include Jesse Eschbach and Kathleen Thomerson. He was one of the last American students of the French organist Marie-Madeleine Duruflé -Chevalier. He is currently the sub-dean of the Saint Louis Chapter of the American Guild of Organists. |
