About Us

Our Parishioners

At St. Paul's we're proud of the fact that we're getting better and better all the time at our mission: "Welcoming and serving all in Christ's Name."

As a result there is no such thing as your "average" St. Paul's parishioner. Some of us have been worshiping at St. Paul's for over 60 years. More and more of us are thirty-somethings and under. And our Sunday School is experiencing more growth than we've seen in years.
We are white, African-American, Latino, Haitian, Indian, carnivores, locavores, vegans, blue-collar, white collar, straight, gay and lesbian, married, single, left, right, and center – all supporting each other in our quest to know and love God, our neighbors, and ourselves better.

Since the beginning of Fr. Clarke's ministry in 2004, many persons alienated by the faith traditions in which they were raised have found St. Paul's a place where they are affirmed as full members of the Body of Christ. This has been especially true for the growing GLBT community at St. Paul's.

In addition, those who seek to worship in the Catholic tradition – and who find The Episcopal Church's commitment to inclusivity liberating and its respect for critical thinking refreshing – increasingly seek out St. Paul's.

It's easy to see, then, why we say at St. Paul's, "It takes all kinds!”

Clergy

John Clarke The Rev. John R. Clarke has been our priest-in-charge since December, 2004.

A native of Waltham, Massachusetts, he received his BA from Wheaton College (Illinois), where he majored in Speech Communication with a concentration in Theater.

After enjoying careers as a corporate trainer for Bain & Company and professional singer, Fr. Clarke received his MDiv from Weston Jesuit School of Theology/Boston College School of Theology and Ministry.

He was ordained to the priesthood in 1999 by the Rt. Rev. M. Thomas Shaw, SSJE.

Prior to his arrival at St. Paul's, Fr. Clarke ministered at St. Augustine and St. Martin's, Roxbury; St. Stephen's, Boston; Church of the Ascension, Ipswich; and Parish of the Messiah, Newton.

As a priest, Fr. Clarke says he is most energized by preaching, liturgy, adult formation, and problem-solving.

In his spare time, he enjoys gardening, working out, cooking, travel (especially Italy), and screening Twilight Zone reruns for sermon starters.

Fr. Clarke and his spouse Bill Theisen live in Boston's South End.