The Rev. Grace Pritchard Burson is a lifelong member of the Episcopal Church, a branch of the worldwide Anglican Communion. Anglicanism is descended from the Church of England and is considered a “middle way” between Catholicism and Protestantism. Anglicans and Episcopalians rely on the three principles of “Scripture, Reason and Tradition” to understand their faith and what God is asking of them. They have a traditional, structured pattern of worship and an incarnational spirituality that respects God’s wondrous creation, human intellectual abilities, artistic endeavors, and the need to serve others and be in relationship in community.
Grace attended Berkeley Divinity School at Yale from 2001 to 2004, earning a Master of Divinity degree from Yale, a Diploma in Anglican Studies from Berkeley, and, just to top it off, a Certificate in Liturgical Studies from the Yale Institute of Sacred Music. She was ordained a deacon in June of 2008 at Christ Church Cathedral in Hartford, Connecticut, and a priest in January of 2009 at Grace Episcopal Church in Manchester, New Hampshire. On that occasion, it was her great honor to be ordained by the Right Rev. V. Gene Robinson, the first openly gay bishop in the Anglican Church and a hero of the faith to many.
Grace was the Curate (assistant pastor) at Grace Episcopal Church, Manchester, for three years, then became Rector (head pastor) at the Episcopal Church of the Holy Spirit in Plymouth, New Hampshire, for four years. She then spent two years at Holy Trinity Lutheran Church in Newington, NH, as an associate interim pastor (the ELCA Lutheran and Episcopal churches are in full communion, meaning their clergy can serve each other’s churches). Most recently, since August of 2018, she has been Incumbent of the Parish of the Resurrection, St. Andrew & St. Mark in Dorval, Quebec, in the Anglican Diocese of Montreal, Anglican Church of Canada.
As a priest, Grace finds joy in preaching and creating immersive worship experiences, in finding ways to include children and families in parish life, and in being present with people at major life transitions. She is also passionate about revitalizing the church for the 21st century and exploring new ways for faith communities to thrive in the post-Christendom world.
https://www.episcopalchurch.org/
https://www.anglicancommunion.org/
https://www.churchofengland.org/
https://berkeleydivinity.yale.edu/
http://gracechurchmanchester.org/