Rector

Father Gavin Dunbar has been rector of St. John’s Church since 2006.  Born and raised in Toronto, Canada, he studied classics at the University of Toronto and Dalhousie University, Halifax; before studying theology at Wycliffe College, Toronto. He was ordained a priest of the Anglican Church of Canada in 1992 in the Diocese of Nova Scotia.  After serving several years in a rural parish in Nova Scotia he came to St. John’s in 1997, as a Priest Assistant.  He is President of the Prayer Book Society of the U. S. A.  In his spare time, he enjoys the study of western art and architecture history (through books or travel) and listening to vocal music of the Renaissance and Baroque period.

Associate Rector

The Rev’d Jonathan Jameson came to St. John’s Church in February 2022 and serves as the Associate Rector. A full-time professional musician since 2005, Jonathan was drawn to traditional Anglican worship as a layman and went on to study divinity at Nashotah House (2019) and Montreal Diocesan Seminary. He was ordained to the priesthood in January 2022 by the Bishop of Central Florida. Jonathan and his wife Amy recently moved from Montreal, and have two young children. We are pleased to welcome them into our congregation and for Jonathan’s ministry among us.

Assisting Priest

Father J. Patrick Hunt was raised in Ohio and educated at Otterbein University, General Theological Seminary, Princeton Theological Seminary, and Union Theological Seminary. He served as a priest in a number of parishes in the dioceses of Long Island, New Jersey, and Albany.  On his retirement, he settled in Savannah and serves as a non-stipendiary assisting priest at St. John’s Church. He is a member of the Society of the Holy Cross (SSC). Fr Hunt is known to many in the congregation, as he has been assisting (chiefly at 12:15 p.m. on Sundays and on weekdays). During the interim, he will be assisting Fr Dunbar at other Sunday services and in weekday pastoral visits.

Ministry Staff

Organist & Choirmaster (Interim)

Senior Warden John Bradshaw and Vestry Music Committee chairman Stacy Jennings have announced the appointment of Jonathan Murphy as Interim Organist-Choirmaster for St. John’s after Mr. Branyon’s retirement September 10th, 2023 and until a new permanent appointment is made. Mr. Murphy is a tenor, and holds a Bachelor of Music and Masters of Music (Performance) from Georgia Southern University and the University of Tennessee, respectively, as well as a Doctorate of Musical Arts from the University of Oklahoma in 2014. Mr. Murphy is on the Faculty of the Fred and Dinah Gretsch School of Music at Georgia Southern University, where he is Lecturer in Voice, Opera and Collaborative Piano, and Musical Director and Conductor of Georgia Southern Opera. He is also active in the region as a vocal coach, and has served as organist and director of music for a number of churches. This year he plans to continue teaching at Georgia Southern Statesboro, and will commute to Savannah on Wednesday evenings and weekends for his duties at St. John’s, with Mrs. Paul Fisher (Angela) continuing to provide support as Assistant Organist. We are very pleased to have someone of Jonathan’s qualifications and experience take responsibility for the music of worship at St. John’s, and encourage you all to welcome him warmly.

Children’s Ministry Director

Sarah Bosiack Ross began as Children’s Ministry Director in January 2019. Along with her husband Joseph Ross, Jr., Sarah recently moved back to St. John’s and Savannah from Summit, NJ, where for five years she served as a trained catechist for 3-6-year-olds. Sarah and her husband have five children, Anna Chase, Joseph III (Tripp), Caroline, Catherine, and William.