The Very Rev. Michael Shaffer Installed as 23rd Rector of St. Mark’s, Charleston

On Saturday, September 6, Bishop Ruth Woodliff-Stanley installed the Very Rev. Dr. Michael Shaffer as the 23rd rector of the historic St. Mark’s Episcopal Church in Charleston. Seminarian Shawan Gillians served as preacher.

Father Michael, who also serves as dean of the Peninsula Deanery, was called to serve as interim rector of St. Mark’s in September 2023. While part of his charge then was to help the church discern their mission and ministry on a path to find a full-time rector, it wasn’t long before the people of St. Mark’s expressed to the bishop that they wanted to call him as their next rector. The vestry and leadership of St. Mark’s announced on Sunday, May 25, that Father Michael had accepted the call to serve as 23rd rector.

As St. Mark’s celebrates the 160th anniversary of their founding this year, this is an exciting chapter in the church’s long story! See more photos from Saturday’s service on Facebook at this link.