Rachel grew up in Michigan and Wisconsin, living in Milwaukee after the age of 10. Her father was a priest in the Diocese of Milwaukee, and they spent one summer up in Fish Creek serving the Church of the Atonement and enjoying the beauty of Door County. She graduated from Kalamazoo College with a BA in Studio Art with minors in physics and sociology. She returned to Milwaukee to work in education and non-profits, and then went to Virginia Theological Seminary to earn her M.Div in 1999.
John grew up in Southwestern Virginia, living in Martinsville, where his parents still live. He grew up in the Episcopal Church, as his mother was a church organist and musician. He graduated from William & Mary in Williamsburg, VA with a BS in Sociology, and spent several years after graduation in pharmaceutical sales and research. He went to Virginia Theological Seminary for his M.Div. in 1999.
John and Rachel met on the first day of seminary. Neither were particularly impressed with the other initially, but found themselves attracted to the other’s sense of humor and deep thought. They dated for most of seminary, were engaged on mission trip to Malawi, and were married in February in Delafield, WI, after graduation. They returned to the Diocese of Milwaukee after seminary – Rachel working as the associate at Trinity Church, Wauwatosa and John meeting the Scrivner’s at Christ Church, Whitefish Bay when he arrived as the associate.
After four years, they moved back to John’s neighborhood to try their first gig as Co-Rector in Rocky Mount, Virginia, and stayed there for almost seven years. After Rocky Mount, they went west for an adventure in an interim position for three and a half years, and then landed in Philadelphia as Rectors of The Church of the Holy Trinity, where they have now served for five and a half years. They’ve been ordained for 20 years and working together for 16, and love every minute of it.
They have 3 children, their oldest is 15 and their twins are 11. They also have a shy shepherd/husky mix (Starbuck), a feisty mouse-catching cat (Sherlock), and a chunky leopard gecko (Jub Jub). They love pretty much every kind of outdoor activity and spending time together with their family and are looking forward to meeting you all soon, too!