Staff

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The Rev. Susan J. Buchanan, Rector
After serving parishes in Winchester VA, North Conway NH, and Richmond VA, Susan came to St. James in 2017. She received her BA in Biblical Studies (1980) from Wheaton College, Wheaton IL and her MDiv (1994) from Virginia Theological Seminary, Alexandria VA.   She is the President of the Standing Committee of the Diocese of Western North Carolina, and is an alternate clergy deputy from this diocese to the General Convention, having served as deputy in the past for this Diocese as well as for the Diocese of New Hampshire. 
Susan loves the outdoors and the mountains, and enjoys hiking, quilting, reading (and writing), and making music. She and her husband, Rick Smith, have two labrador retrievers.  Between them they have 5 children (one in Hawaii and the others in New England) and 6 grandchildren.
email: [email protected]

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Church office hours are 9am-noon Tuesday - Thursday

These hours are based on the Parish Administrator's schedule. For security reasons, the door to the building is kept locked.  Please press the "Ring" doorbell, and if someone is there they will answer.

The Rector has gone to a half-time schedule for 2026, and is usually in the office for about 5 hours each day  on Tuesdays and Wednesdays, although even those hours are changeable based on needed pastoral visits and meetings.  She welcomes you to stop by the office, but if you need time with her please make an appointment to make sure you catch her!  Emailing her is the best way to set up appointment times.

Contact

Other Staff:

Dr. Vince Crist, Organist and Choir Director
contact available through the church office

 Zachary Clark, Administrative Assistant
email: [email protected]

Lisa Bennick, Bookkeeper
email: [email protected]

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The office is CLOSED for the following holidays:
New Year's Day
Martin Luther King Day
Easter Monday
Memorial Day
July 4th
Labor Day
Veteran's Day
Thanksgiving Day
Christmas Holiday (2 days)