Loading...SEVIERVILLE -- The Rev. Paige Buchholz has been named the new part-time rector at St. Joseph the Carpenter Episcopal Church. The announcement at the church prompted a gathering of parishioners wearing celebratory headbands and a song played by the church’s kazoo ensemble.
Buchholz is one of several interim priests who have conducted services at St. Joseph’s during the last year. “After several months, conversations, and budget reviews, the Vestry has offered a part-time rector position to Paige Buchholz,” said Steve Petty, the church’s senior warden.
About a year ago, “we realized we couldn’t afford a full-time priest,” said Vestry member Betty Vickers. After that, Buchholz was one of several supply priests who served St. Joseph’s on Sundays. Now, Vestry members feel the church budget can sustain a part-time rector, and the supply priests were prime candidates. “We got down to two people we really liked and they liked us,” Vickers said. Finally, it was decided that Buchholz will take over the position.
“We have had an unusual opportunity to get to know and fall in love with Paige over the past 11 months,” Petty said. “Lots of our parishioners have formed a real bond with her. This will make a tremendous difference when we begin our shared ministry with Paige on March 4 because we are already so well acquainted with each other.”
Buchholz is originally from the Washington, D.C. area, and has lived in East Tennessee since her ordination in 1988. She has served at St. Luke’s Episcopal Church in Knoxville, at St. Elizabeth’s in Farragut and as chaplain at the University of Tennessee Medical Center. Currently she works for Knox County Community Action Committee’s Office on Aging as director of the local meal program for Knox County, known as Mobile Meals. She will give up that job to take up her new position at St. Joseph’s.
“I’m really excited about it,” Buchholz said. “Sevierville will be new territory,” and she is looking forward to learning more about the area. “St. Joseph’s is also at a place of new beginnings,” she said.
St. Joseph’s is enrolled in the New Dreams, New Visions program that pairs churches with no full-time priest with retired priests looking for an encore ministry. In this program, both the church and the priest agree to work toward revitalizing the church. “The program gives us a lot of guidance over the next couple of years,” Vickers said.
St. Joseph’s Episcopal Church is at 345 Hardin Lane, Sevierville. Holy Eucharist is celebrated at 8 a.m. and 10:30 a.m. on Sundays; Christian education is at 9:15 a.m.
For more information contact Betty Vickers, 865-453-0943, or the church at 865-453-0943.
