Bernadette Shawan Gillians was ordained to the Sacred Order of Deacons by the Right Reverend Ruth Woodliff-Stanley on Tuesday, June 9, at Grace Church Cathedral in Charleston. The service may be viewed on YouTube at this link. View the service bulletin at this link. Her chosen date of ordination had special significance as June 9 marks…

Bishop Ruth Woodliff-Stanley will lead a service to celebrate the new ministry of the Rev. Will Berry as rector of St. James, Charleston (James Island) on Tuesday, July 14, at 7 pm. Father Will began serving the congregation on Maundy Thursday, and this service will officially mark the beginning of this chapter in the life of this…

Bishop Ruth Woodliff-Stanley will lead a service to celebrate the new ministry of the Rev. Jenny Newman as rector of St. Mark’s, Port Royal on Saturday, June 20, at 10 am. This special service marks a new chapter in the life of the parish as they celebrate God’s work among them and look toward the future with hope…

The bishop welcomed the priests and deacons of the diocese—active and retired— for their annual retreat at St. Christopher Camp and Conference Center May 11-13. Beth-Sarah Wright, Ph.D., acting director of the Absalom Jones Episcopal Center for Racial Healing, presented a series of retreat sessions entitled Walking in Newness of Life: Living the Baptismal Covenant in this…

The Rev. Adam Shoemaker, who currently serves as rector of St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church in Charleston, was elected ninth bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Long Island on April 18 by nearly 300 clergy and lay delegates, meeting at the Cathedral of the Incarnation in Garden City, New York. He was elected on the fourth ballot as one of three candidates standing for the election….

The Reverend Denise Trogdon, rector of All Saints, Hilton Head Island, announced to her congregation last week that she will be retiring, effective June 1, 2026. “With mixed emotion, I share the news that 2026 will be my year to retire,” she said in the announcement. “This is my 40th year of full-time work, my 18th…

We have unexpected, yet joyful, news to share. On Friday, March 13, during the 90th Annual Convention of The Episcopal Church of Liberia, the Reverend Canon Wilmot Merchant II—rector of St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church in North Myrtle Beach—was elected as one of two suffragan bishops for two dioceses in Liberia. His nomination came from the…

At the request of the vestry of St. James Episcopal Church in Charleston (on James Island), Bishop Ruth Woodliff-Stanley has called the Rev. Will Berry to serve as the next rector of this historic church of our diocese. Father Will has served as associate rector for families and formation at St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church in…

It is with great sadness that we share the news that the Reverend Chris Huff, a beloved child of God and son of our diocese, died Wednesday morning, March 4, 2026.  Bishop Ruth Woodliff-Stanley joins the people of the diocese in grieving his death and remembering him fondly. “From my very first meeting of Father Chris,…

Bishop Ruth Woodliff-Stanley has appointed the Rev. Jordan Trendelman, rector of Holy Communion, Charleston, as dean of the Peninsula Deanery. The bishop expressed her gratitude for this transition. “In his short time here, Jordan has quickly become a trusted colleague to Peninsula clergy and lay leaders,” said Bishop Woodliff-Stanley. “I am grateful he has accepted this…

The Rev. Shawn Griffith was called late last year as associate chaplain at Bishop Gadsden Episcopal Retirement Community, serving in the Gadsden Glen Center for Health and Rehab. Prior to his arrival, Shawn served for 20 years as the rector of St. Mark’s Episcopal Church in Gastonia, NC (in the Diocese of Western North Carolina)….

With the complete support of Bishop Ruth Woodliff-Stanley, Messiah, Myrtle Beach has called the Rev. Roy Tripp to serve as their next priest-in-charge.  Father Roy retired last year as rector of St. Mark’s, Port Royal (a full-time position) but was ready to serve in a part-time opportunity. In his letter to the congregation shared with…