Church Staff
Rev Rachel Kessler
Harcourt Parish Rector
Kenyon College Chaplain
Rachel Kessler graduated from Kenyon College in 2004, majoring in English and Philosophy. Rachel earned her Master’s of Divinity from Wycliffe College, University of Toronto, in 2011. She was appointed priest-in-charge of Harcourt Parish and chaplain at Kenyon College in the fall of 2015. Before returning to Harcourt Parish and Kenyon College, Rachel served at Grace Church-on-the-Hill, Toronto.
Before attending seminary, Rachel earned a PhD from the Centre for Medieval Studies in the University of Toronto, specializing in Old English and Anglo-Latin literature. Rachel and her husband Leeman (also Kenyon ’04 and Mayor of Gambier) have two children: Amanda and Martin. In her free time, Rachel enjoys baking, watching way too much TV, reading science fiction, and playing board games.
Contact: kesslerr@kenyon.edu
740-427-5353
Stan Osborn
Organist and Choir Director
Stan Osborn grew up in the Episcopal Church and has a life-long love of its musical tradition. He earned a B.A. degree in music at the University of Michigan-Flint, and an M.M. in church music from Northwestern University School of Music. He served as the Organist and Choir director at Harcourt from 1990-1997 and returned to that position in 2019.
In addition to playing the organ, Stan has worked for Muller Pipe Organ Company as an organ technician for 33 years, building and maintaining pipe organs.
Stan loves to bicycle the back roads around Gambier. He also loves cooking. Stan lives with his partner Bob Hendrickson in Mount Vernon.
Contact: stanosborn@earthlink.net
Lay Leadership
Elizabeth Dark, Senior Warden
Samantha Turner, Junior Warden
The wardens serve as the primary lay (non-ordained) leaders of the parish. The senior warden collaborates with the priest-in-charge on matters of parish finances and administrative responsibilities. The junior warden oversees care of the parish property. Together, the wardens and priest oversee the vestry, which is the term we use for the governing body of the church. To reach either of the wardens, please contact the main office.