Nevin-Field, who has served as Assistant Rector at St. Peter’s Church since 2006, assumed her responsibilities as rector on August 1, 2015.

“It is with great happiness and also with a profound sense of history that the Vestry of St. Peter’s Episcopal Church announces that it has called the Rev. Claire Nevin-Field to be our next rector,” said Rick Fitzgerald, Rector’s Warden. “Claire’s work with us has demonstrated a love of children, an appreciation of the importance of great liturgical music, a commitment to thoughtful, well-crafted preaching, and a vision of the church as the body of Christ committed to serving others.”

Nevin-Field is originally from the northeast of England, but spent most of her childhood in northern Delaware. She received her Bachelor of Science in Nursing from the University of Delaware and her Master of Science in Nursing with a certificate in Nurse-Midwifery from the University of Pennsylvania. While working as a nurse-midwife Nevin-Field experienced a reawakening of a call she had experienced earlier to ordained ministry. She observes that while the physicality of being a nurse-midwife and a priest may be different, the experience of being with people during key moments of life, accompanying them and witnessing to new life within them, is similar.

Nevin-Field attended Lutheran Theological Seminary for two years and The General Seminary of the Episcopal Church for one year, receiving a Master of Divinity degree from General Seminary. She has a passion for outreach, particularly for feeding people and for Christian education. In addition to her work at St. Peter’s, Nevin-Field serves as Chair of the Diocesan Commission on Ministry, the Church Training Deaconess House Board, and the Board of the Lutheran Theological Seminary at Philadelphia. Nevin-Field lives in West Chester with her husband, Andrew, a systems manager, but will be moving to Philadelphia soon.

“I am thrilled and excited to accept the vestry’s call to be the 21st Rector of St. Peter’s Church,” said the Rev. Nevin-Field. “Over the last 9 years I have grown to know and love the St. Peter’s community and it has been a privilege to do ministry here—to care for each other and serve this neighborhood, city, and wider world in Jesus’ name.”

ABOUT ST. PETER’S CHURCH

Founded in 1761, St. Peter’s is an active and growing Episcopal parish located at 3rd and Pine Streets in the Society Hill neighborhood of Philadelphia. The historic church was designed and built by architect Robert Smith on land donated by the Penn family. The original high-backed box pews were frequented by George and Martha Washington, painter Charles Willson Peale, war hero Stephen Decatur, and Absalom Jones, the first black Episcopal priest. A vibrant community of faith for the past 250 years, St. Peter’s Church sponsors a food cupboard serving more than 180 families a week, an active choral program for children and adults, and numerous fellowship and education groups. For more information about St. Peter’s Church, visit www.stpetersphila.org or call 215-925-5968.