Dear Friends,
On behalf of the Vestry and Search Committee, I am pleased to announce that the Reverend David Hickman May has accepted our call to be the fourth permanent Rector of St. Mary’s Episcopal Church, Goochland, Virginia.
Our decision to call David was made with unanimous support of the Search Committee and with a strong feeling that God provided clear direction. As one of his references so eloquently described, “there is no finer man than David May.”
His intelligence, quiet leadership, excellent listening skills, warmth, humility, compelling homilies and connection with all ages will allow David to lead St. Mary’s forward. We look to the future as we worship and learn together to better serve the needs of others in gratefulness for God’s love and grace.
David is currently the Rector of Grace Episcopal Church in Kilmarnock, Virginia, where he has served for twelve years. David has also served as Assistant Rector at The Church of Our Savior in Charlottesville and as the Rector at St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church in Richmond. He has held numerous positions of leadership including as president and board member at Rappahannock Westminster-Canterbury and board responsibilities at the Foundation for Historic Christ Church, the Faith Leaders Initiative, St. Andrew’s School, and the Diocese of Virginia, among others. David received his B.A. from the University of Tennessee, an MFA from Virginia Commonwealth University, and MDIV from The School of Theology, Sewanee.
Over the past six months, the rector search committee reviewed over 45 resumes and held 12 face-to-face interviews before narrowing down to three outstanding finalists. Each of these finalists, along with their spouses, visited and conducted a service for both the search committee and the staff. The committee worked tirelessly, collaboratively, and prayerfully as we searched for our next Rector.
It has been an honor to work with the members of the search committee. Their dedication, passion, and love for St. Mary’s has been evident throughout the process. We truly felt God’s presence as we came together to call our new rector.
David and his wife Emily have two sons, John, who is 26 and getting married this summer, and Ben who is 23. We look forward to David joining us as our new Rector in mid-July. We warmly welcome the Mays back to Richmond.
Faithfully,
Tracey Ragsdale, Senior Warden
Dear Friends in Christ,
I am so deeply grateful to God for the extraordinary gift of this new beginning for you and for us. I am so grateful for the work and ministry of the Search Committee for their prayerful and faithful shepherding of the leadings of the Holy Spirit throughout this process. I want to let you know how very excited and grateful my wife Emily and I are as we anticipate joining you later this summer. Please be assured that you have been and will continue to be in my prayers, in thanksgiving, and in joyful expectation.
Your brother in Christ,
David+