GRACE LEADERSHIP
Our leadership team recognizes the authority of God, and realizes that we are shepherds who serve under Christ. We have a team (Vestry) voted on by the Parish that serves us and leads/oversees many of our ministries and steers our Church with transparency and strength. Our passion and goal is to equip the believers for the work of the ministry until we all attain maturity in the fullness of Christ.
REV. CANON
AARON W. SMITH
Rector
The Rev. Canon Aaron W. Smith, along with his family, Meredith, Ambrose, and Clement, joined Grace church in 2019.
Aaron, originally from Ontario, Canada, and the son of an Episcopal priest, is married to Meredith, originally from California. They met in Nashville TN, while Aaron was attending Sewanee: The University of the South for seminary, and Meredith was working in publishing.
Prior to Grace, Aaron served as Diocesan Staff for the Diocese of Florida, as well as parishes in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and Magnolia Springs, Alabama. His children attend Grace Episcopal Day School. Meredith Smith is Director of Patient Services for WeCare Jax.
THE REV. CELESTE TISDELLE
Priest Associate Emeritus
Mother Celeste is a retired clergy in the Diocese of Florida. She served as Rector at St. Mary’s Episcopal Church in Green Cove Springs from 2009-2019. During that time, She took time overseas to supply as chaplain at Balliol College, Oxford, England for two college terms. She also served as an associate at Grace Episcopal Church in Orange Park from 2006-2009, for which she currently bears the title emeritus. She served as Canon for Pastoral Care at St. John’s Cathedral 2003-2006. Mother Celeste has served in many roles at the diocesan level over these years: delegate to General Convention, Diocesan Council, Daughters of the King Diocesan Chaplain, to name a few.
Mother Celeste lives in Orange Park on the St. John’s River with her Scottie, Sorsha. She has three grown daughters and four grandsons.
She is delighted to come home to Grace to worship having a long history with the parish and the area. Mother Celeste and her late husband, Ash Tisdelle, were married at Grace Chapel in 1977. Their children were baptized at Grace. The children also attended Grace Episcopal Day School. They worshipped at Grace until moving to Fleming Island in 1987 where we began attending St. Margaret’s Episcopal Church, Hibernia.
She currently serves in a number of ways, including celebrating, teaching, formation, and as the chaplain to the local chapter of the Daughters of the King.
JIM WRIGHT
Music Director
Jim Wright, a native of southern Illinois, received his Bachelor’s in Piano Performance from Murray State University. He has been active in the liturgical music field for over 50 years. He was music director at several parishes in southern Illinois. He also taught private piano, organ and voice, general music in private schools, and was an adjunct faculty member of applied music at Belleville Area College.
He was accompanist for the Amelia Island Chorale and has done extensive accompanying and coaching in private music studios.
He served as Associate Music Director at San Jose Catholic Church in Jacksonville, Florida for eight years. Jim served as interim music director at St Patrick’s Episcopal Church in Fruit Cove, St. Elizabeth’s Episcopal Church. He has been Director of Music and Organist at Grace Church since 2014.
AARON GIDDENS
Choir & Handbells Director
Raised in Orange Park, Aaron has woven a tapestry of music in varying cities from Jacksonville to as far as Asheville, NC. With a full vocal scholarship, he attended Florida State College at Jacksonville under the direction of Dr. Tim Workman. Aaron started playing piano and organ while he was still crawling. He played his first duet, “I’ll Fly Away,” with his grandfather at the age of 3. He started taking formal music lessons at the age of 7. He studied under renowned local teachers such as: Debbie Chapman, Donna O’Brien, Dr. Anatoli Khatchatourov, Cameron Warner and Michelle Nugent Munley. He has been a part of multiple vocal and instrumental groups including praise bands, choirs, orchestras, and theatrical productions. Before his tenure at Grace, Aaron was Director of Music and one of the two Organists at Trinity Lutheran Church, Jacksonville. He was an active member of the First Baptist Church of Orange Park’s music program including its orchestra, children’s, youth, and adult choirs from 1999-2008. Aaron has been active in the music ministry at Grace since October 2022. He looks forward to many years of making music at Grace and growing our music department. His ministry is summed up in a quote by his friend and organist Kim Bloomer “It is a great gift to give your very best to your congregation, as they deserve it. God already knows whether you’re giving your utmost or not, but do your best, love your congregation, and let God see how proud you are that He gave you the talent you have.”
CHILDREN'S MINISTRY
HARMON PATTERSON
Children's Ministry
Harmon Patterson grew up attending an Episcopal Church in Jacksonville, FL. She graduated from the University of North Florida with a degree in Spanish and Education. After graduating, she moved to Spain to teach English for 5 years. She has taught all grade levels and ages and is currently teaching PreK 4. When she is not teaching or at Grace Church, she enjoys spending time with her husband, Tyler and their two children, Amelia and Bradley.
2024 VESTRY
The Vestry serves as a governing body at the Bishop’s pleasure to oversee and work with the Priest on all things pertaining to Grace Episcopal. They are agents and legal representatives of the Parish in all matters concerning its corporate property and the relations of the parish to its clergy. Members serve varying lengths of terms from 1-3 years and are voted on during the Annual Church meeting.
Jason Hitt
Senior Warden
Carrie Kissinger
Junior Warden
Ben Cline
Ryan King
Mark Lampke
Pat McHugh
Stephanie Mooneyham
Helen Moore
Edna Schaefer
Dottie White
Vestry Clerk
Doris Latour
Financials