Welcoming words with Reverend Richard Easterling
Meet the new priest-in-charge of St. James Episcopal Church
Helen Farrell
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Reverend Richard Easterling and his husband
David Wohlgemuth. Richard is the new
priest-in-charge of St. James Episcopal Church, who is settling into the role after six years as the rector of St. George’s Church in New Orleans.
This must be an odd time to begin a new assignment. When did you arrive in Florence and what were your first impressions?
Richard: We arrived on December 23 on one of Delta’s inaugural quarantine-free flights. It was great to be here for Christmas. The Bishop had been tending to the church, so we worked together for the Christmas Eve service and he, very generously, gave me Christmas Day off. Our experience of transatlantic travel is that usually we would hit the ground running and just exhaust ourselves during the day, but because of the lockdown measures jetlag was more difficult than it’s
It was a sweltering day when Justin Randolph Thompson and I sat down outdoors for coffee and a renewed commitment.
The Florentine has always given space to
Black History Month Florence as the cultural initiative has evolved since its foundation in 2016, but in 2021 we feel compelled to dive deeper and broaden an awareness of Black culture in Florence. In addition to a regular column, this month’s issue contains an extended special edited by BHMF, which will be accompanied by online chats on our Facebook pages and YouTube channels. It’s our hope that the Italian media will follow suit to amplify under-acknowledged voices throughout the country. Contents include a thought-provoking review of the
St. James Episcopal Church calls new priest
The Reverend Richard Easterling joins Florence church
Editorial Staff
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St. James Episcopal Church has called The Reverend Richard Easterling to serve as its new priest-in-charge. As priest-in-charge, Fr. Richard will lead the church of around 200 members in all matters of worship and community involvement.
Easterling holds degrees from Louisiana State University and Seabury-Western Theological Seminary in Evanston, Illinois. He will assume the leadership of a church widely known for its historic links to both Florence and the birth of the Italian nation in the mid-eighteenth century.
He comes to St. James from New Orleans, Louisiana, where he served as Rector of St. George’s Church for six years. At St. George’s, his tenure was distinguished by profound preaching, reestablishing community, healing a parish in difficulty, creating financial sustainability, nurturing a diverse community and a commitment to inter-rel