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Clergy and Staff

The Rev. Dr. Eric Biddy, Rector

Fr. Eric joined Saint Paul’s Church September 1, 2021 as its 22nd Rector. A native Georgian, Father Biddy grew up in Powder Springs, Georgia (near Marietta) and graduated from Candler School of Theology at Emory University. He recently received a PhD in theological ethics from Chicago Theological Seminary. While working on his doctoral degree, Father Biddy pastored St. Christopher’s Episcopal Church in Oak Park, Illinois for seven years. He, his wife, Jackie, and their children, Isaac and Lucy, share their home with their twelve-year-old cat, Nell, and their two-year-old dog, St. Aidan of Lindisbark, more informally know as Aidan.

The Rev. Kimberly E. Dunn, Associate Rector

The Rev. Kimberly E. Dunn accepted a call to Saint Paul’s Church June 2023 as Associate Rector with an emphasis on pastoral care to our parishioners throughout the CSRA and building and deepening our relationships with our neighbors—those who work, study, live, or visit in downtown Augusta. Mother Kimberly graduated from Virginia Theological Seminary with a Master of Divinity degree in May 2023. She was ordained a priest at Saint Paul’s Church, December 16, 2023.

She holds a Bachelor of Music and Master of Music degree in Vocal Performance in Opera Theater and has been a professional international performer. A native of Kansas City, KS and the youngest of eight children raised in the CME Church, she is a former military spouse who served and held space for service members and their families in Europe during Desert Storm as the Director of Music at the post Chapel in Karlsruhe, Germany. She has two sons Kendall 29 and Noah 23.

She also brings her gifts and skills as an educator of PreK3-12 grades in both public and private schools, Professor of Music on the collegiate level, a Certified Life Coach and Strategist, and as a Certified Mental Health First Aid Instructor. She is currently co-writing and co-editing a book with The Very Reverend Ian S. Markham the Dean and President of Virginia Theological Seminary to be released in 2024 called, Experiencing God: Faith Narratives of Episcopalians.

The Rev. Bill Dolen, Assisting Clergy

Bill and Carolyn Dolen came to Augusta in 1992 when Bill joined the faculty at the Medical College of Georgia. He has served in various roles at MCG and lectured on many topics in allergy-immunology locally, nationally, and internationally. He oversees a Spirituality and Medicine elective for medical students. He is a US Army Veteran, having served as commander of the health clinic at NATO Headquarters in Brussels.

Shortly after arriving in Augusta, Bill and Carolyn made Saint Paul’s Church their home away from home, participating in the choir and in other ministries. He completed the Advanced Degree Program at the University of the South and was ordained to the priesthood in 2010. He approaches Bible study from the standpoint of Theological Interpretation and generally approaches theology from the Paleo-Orthodox viewpoint. He particularly enjoys wrestling with difficult, troublesome texts in Holy Scripture.

Bill is a local scuba instructor and recreational powerlifter. He also enjoys music. He has been Assistant Conductor of the Augusta Choral Society for many years and has been a substitute choir director at Saint Paul’s. He is a member of the American Guild of Organists and has served as the local chapter’s chaplain. When you hear him playing the organ at Saint Paul’s, it’s likely that his computer is doing the actual playing via the console’s MIDI interface. He has written and arranged music for Saint Paul’s and the Augusta Choral Society.

The Dolens have 2 children, 2 grandchildren, and Buddy – a rescued pound puppy.

The Rev. Erwin Veale, Assisting Clergy

The Rev. Erwin Veale and his wife, Virginia, have two children, Adam and Corinne. Erwin and Virginia were married at Saint Paul’s on December 28, 1991.

He was ordained to the Deaconate at Saint Paul’s on June 1, 1994 and ordained to the Priesthood at St. Augustine’s on March 14, 1996.

Fr. Veale served for over 16 years as Associate Director of the Department of Pastoral Counseling at AU Medical Center in Augusta and now serves on the Pastoral Care Staff at University Hospital.

Father Veale has served numerous congregations throughout the Augusta Convocation. He loves to sing and read and is a great fan of history and nearly any sport.

Hillary Bryant, Head Sexton

Hillary attended Georgia Southwestern State University in Americus, GA. He retired from the State of Georgia. Hillary is married and has two beautiful daughters, and four beautiful granddaughters. He has been employed at Saint Paul’s since 2013.

**Kim Butler, Director of Children, Youth, and Intergenerational Ministries**

Kim Butler has been a member of Saint Paul’s church since 2000 and is currently serving as Director of Children, Youth, and Intergenerational Ministries. She graduated from the University of Georgia with a Bachelor of Education in Communication Sciences and Disorders and from the University of Memphis with a Master of Arts in Speech-Language Pathology. She worked as a speech-language pathologist in a hospital setting for 23 years.

In her time as a parishioner at Saint Paul’s, Kim has served at Saint Paul’s with the outreach committee and outreach ministries and as a Children’s Formation Teacher. She is active in the local interfaith community, in animal welfare programs, and serves as a trustee with the Aiken County Library Board. She enjoys running, reading, and traveling. Kim and her husband, Eddie, have three children and two dogs.

Connie Duke, Nursery Caregiver

Connie Duke has been serving as a Nursery Caregiver at Saint Paul’s since 2004. Some of the little ones she cared for are now young adults and college students who still stop in to say hello. Ms. Connie rarely misses a Sunday.

Victoria Hammond and Nikki Wickware, Saint Nicholas Choir Directors

Victoria Hammond (right) and Nikki Wickware (left) are the directors of the St. Nicholas Choir. Born in Jacksonville, Florida Victoria Hammond is a graduate of Evans High School and has a Bachelor’s degree in Music Education from Augusta College and a Masters degree in Education from Cambridge College. Victoria began singing in the St. Paul’s Choir in 1991. She married Steve Hammond in 1991 and is the mother of Ina Marie and Gabriel, both members of the Canterbury Choir. She has been teaching elementary music in Richmond County for 22 years. Nikki Wickware is a retired music educator with 33 years experience teaching grades P-K through 5 in both Florida and Georgia. Her education includes a Bachelor of Music Education degree from Florida State University and a Master of Education degree from Florida Atlantic University. She has been a member of the Saint Paul’s choir for 10 years. Before coming to Saint Paul’s Nikki was an active choir member and soloist for more than 30 years. As a note of interest, Nikki’s son, Kevin, is a member of the Cathedral Schola choir at The Cathedral of Saint Philip in Atlanta. We are so fortunate to find such talented musicians right in our midst.

Norm Nieminen, Parish Accountant

Norm joined Saint Paul’s in late 2021 as the Parish Accountant. He is a 1969 graduate of Ohio State University and Lt. Colonel, USAF (Retired). Norm entered active duty as a Budget Analyst. He returned to Ohio State for his Master’s and again as an Asistant Professor of Aerospace Science. After his retirement from active duty in 1989, he lived in Newport News, VA and Hilton Head Island, SC prior to moving to Aiken in 2005, where has performed accounting functions for SRPFCU and DayBreak Adult Care. He is married to his wife of 54 years, Cecelia Ann Baum Nieminen.

Elisabeth Price, Parish Administrator

Elisabeth Price has been a member of Saint Paul’s Church since 2004 and has served as Parish Administrator since 2011. She graduated from The University of South Carolina with a Masters Degree in Business Administration and a Bachelor of Science in Business Economics. She has been blissfully married to Stan since 2001; They have two sons.

Sarah Pritchard, Music Associate Emerita

A native of Augusta, Sarah Pritchard joined the staff of Saint Paul’s Church in 1986 after a 25-year career as the Organist and Choirmaster of Christ Episcopal Church in the Harrisburg neighborhood. Miss Pritchard studied piano with Mildred Marston, Artemesia Thevaos, and organ with Emily Remington, Dr. Preston Rockholt, and Keith Shafer, and earned the degree, Bachelor of Music, at Augusta College (now Augusta State University).

Hannah Purvis, Parish Operations Assistant and River Room Coordinator

Hannah joined Saint Paul’s in 2022 as the River Room Coordinator and Parish Operations Assistant. She was born and raised in Augusta and graduated from Westside High School. As an active member of the Episcopal church, she has participated in multiple diocesan mission trips and is passionate about helping the community through outreach work.

Keith Shafer, Director of Music and Organist

A native of Connecticut where he grew up on a farm, Keith Shafer was educated at the Hartt College of Music at the University of Hartford; the College-Conservatory of Music at the University of Cincinnati; and the Meadows School of the Arts at Southern Methodist University in Dallas, Texas. A finalist in all of the major American organ playing competitions, Mr. Shafer has appeared in concert throughout the country.

Since 1983 he has been Director of Music and Organist of historic Saint Paul’s Church in Augusta, Georgia. He has spent residencies in the British cathedrals in Salisbury, Durham, Worcester, York, Edinburgh, and St. Paul’s Cathedral, London. He has been Georgia Convenor of the American Guild of Organists and Dean and Treasurer of the Augusta Chapter. For 25 years he was a Director of the Sewanee Church Music Conference held annually at the University of the South in Sewanee, Tennessee and has been a member of the Liturgical Commission of the Episcopal Diocese of Georgia. His recordings have been broadcast on National Public Radio’s Pipedreams, Georgia Public Radio’s Performance Showcase, and South Carolina Public Radio. His popular editions of “Psalms Made Singable,” are being used throughout the United States and Canada and he has worked on more than fifty organ projects with churches of various denominations.

Greg Maxie Sexton

Originally from Asbury Park, NJ, Greg came to Augusta 17 years ago. Greg started working for Saint Paul’s in January of 2010. Greg has 4 children who live in New Jersey. While working part-time for Saint Paul’s, Greg works full-time for the Marriott.