Dear Friends,
Please join me in welcoming Aidan Stoddart to Manakin Episcopal Church. Aiden will join us as a lay pastor, preacher and teacher starting on June 9. He will be with us full-time through the summer and will start a resident chaplaincy program through Bon Secours in the fall.
Aidan grew up in Charlottesville. He went to college in Boston, where he first discerned a call to ordained ministry. From Boston he went to New Haven, CT, where he completed a master’s degree at Yale Divinity School. He comes to Manakin directly from Yale. He is excited to be ordained in 2025, and in the meantime is looking forward to serving at Manakin Church. He is also excited to return to Virginia after being based up north for seven years.
Aidan previously served St. Paul’s Parish, Brookfield, CT and St. Barnabas Church, Greenwich, CT. He also had a stint as a hospital chaplain in Bridgeport, CT, and once spent a summer living with Trappist monks in South Carolina.
Aidan’s academic background is in Christian theology and he is particularly interested in ancient and medieval theology, the theology of prayer and liturgical theology. His favorite theologian is Julian of Norwich. Aidan also has a fondness for all sorts of church vestments and will be happy to talk to you about it.
In addition to Jesus, Aidan has many interests, including: reading fantasy novels; going on long walks with his partner, Peyton, and her dog; journalling; playing games; and practicing guitar. Aidan also loves visiting tea shops and microbreweries, and he always welcomes recommendations.
I look forward to having Aiden with us this summer and for all that we will be doing together in ministry.
Blessings,
Gini+