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THE REVEREND PARK BODIE

Interim Rector

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THE REV. DR. HARRY LAWRENCE

Priest Emeritus

Harry Lawrence graduated in 1949 from Baylor School, Chattanooga. He received a B.S. degree in 1953 from Washington & Lee University, followed by an M.D. degree in 1956 from The University of Tennessee. Harry was a U.S. Naval flight surgeon on active duty from 1958 until 1961. He did his residency in Ophthalmology at Mayo Clinic from 1961 to 1967 and holds a post-doctoral M.S. degree from the University of Minnesota. He has practiced medicine in Chattanooga since 1968 and served as Chairman of the Department of Ophthalmology, University of Tennessee Medical School in Chattanooga for 25 years.

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Between 1974 and 1978 Dr. Lawrence engaged in Diocesan tutorial studies leading to ordination. In 1978 he was ordained to the diaconate and then to the priesthood in 1979. He has served as Assisting Priest at Christ Church since 1979. Fr. Harry and his wife Sue have been married for 60 years. They have five children.

Fr. Bodie is a 1986 graduate of the School of Theology in Sewanee and served in East Tennessee from 1986-1997 at St. Timothy’s Church, Signal Mountain and St. Columba’s Church in Bristol.  In 1997 he accepted a call to serve on the clergy staff of St. Thomas Church Fifth Avenue in New York City. He left St. Thomas in 2005 and served in various capacities in parishes in Manhattan, the Diocese of New Jersey, Westchester County, New York, and the Diocese of Long Island.  He and his wife, Suzanne returned to Chattanooga on March 1, 2019. He was invited to be the Celebrant of the Easter Day liturgies of Christ Church and during the Spring and early Summer felt more and more drawn to offer his services to the parish in a more substantial way. The Senior Warden, Michael Thompson and he agreed to explore the possibility of an open-ended, part time Interim Rectorship which they presented to the Bishop who has given his blessing to the relationship.

MEET OUR STAFF

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KARLA FOWKES

Director of Music

Karla has been Christ Church’s Music Director since 1992. Immediately after college, she studied organ at Hochschule fur Musik in Vienna. Interest in organ music and building led her to master classes with outstanding, well-known organists.

 

She holds a master’s degree in organ performance from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville. In 1988, she, her husband Bruce, and their partner Ralph Richards founded the organ building firm of Richards, Fowkes & Co. 

 

Karla serves as the chair of the board and an accompanist for the Bach Choir of Chattanooga.

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BETSY HAWTHORNE BEDWELL

Director of Children’s Formation

Betsy is a second-generation teacher who has taught all ages from preschool to adults. She loves sharing the stories of the people of God with the youngest members of the Church.

 

During the week, Betsy works as a preschool programs evaluator. She is a native of Chattanooga who has lived in Colorado and Spain, but has returned to live in Brainerd with her husband, Eric.

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BRIAN J. HENRY

Parish Administrator

Brian started at Christ Church in Advent of 2019, and does not much like writing personal descriptions. 

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