Rev. Robert Hart
Rector
Father Robert Hart is the Rector of St. Benedict’s Anglican Catholic Church where he has been serving since 2009. He was a contributing editor of Touchstone, a Journal of Mere Christianity for twenty years, and has been writing most of the posts on the Continuum blog since 2006, and has been published numerous times. He was ordained to the priesthood on May 29, 1999. With his wife, Diane, he has raised four children, all of whom are adults now.
Rev. Nicholas Harrelson
Curate
Nicholas Harrelson is a Graduate Student Assistant in the Office of Student Veterans. He lives in Haw River, NC with his wife Codie, son Atticus, infant daughter Harlow, and expecting another daughter Willow. Nicholas was ordained a priest in the Anglican Catholic Church on May 27, 2023, a doctoral student at the University of Aberdeen, and is a vowed brother in Christ Mission Anglican Benedictines. He holds a Bachelor of Art in History from Virginia Military Institute (VMI), a Master of Art in Diplomacy with a concentration in International Conflict Resolution from Norwich University, and a Master of Divinity from Duke University. Nicholas served six years as an infantryman in the United States Army and is a two-tour combat-wounded veteran of the recent conflicts.
Mr. James Lazenby
Music Director
Born and raised in the Utica area of upstate New York, I began my musical career as a treble chorister (for five years) in the Choir of Men & Boys at Grace Church, Utica. At the age of 15 I assumed my first organ position at a small Baptist Church in North Utica, continuing through my High School years. Upon graduation from Whitesboro Central School in 1960, I attended the Crane School of Music at SUNY Potsdam, graduating in 1964 with a degree in Music Education. Though a piano major at the college, I studied organ privately with Dr. George L. Jones, Jr., Organist at Trinity College, Potsdam, and served as his assistant for my four years as an undergraduate. I taught vocal music in Castleton-on-Hudson from 1964-67, and studied organ with Dr. Lloyd E. Cast, Jr., the Organist at the Cathedral of All Saints, Albany, NY. From 1967-69 I was a student at Union Theological Seminary, NYC, studied organ with Dr. Leonard Raver, was Associate Organist at the then Chapel of the Intercession of Trinity Church, Wall Street, and received a Masters of Sacred Music with a major in organ. From 1969-88 I served as Organist & Choirmaster at St. George’s Episcopal Church, Schenectady, NY, while also serving as conductor of the Burnt Hills Oratorio Society. For a short spell I served as Minister of Music at Trinity United Methodist Church on Capital Hill in Albany, NY, taught briefly at Schenectady County Community College, before moving to North Carolina in 1990. After a short tenure as interim-Director of Music at St. Thomas More RC Church in Chapel Hill, I was appointed organist at St. Benedict’s Anglican Church, where I have continued to serve as Organist for over 30 years. In addition to my musical endeavors at St. Benedict’s Church, I have also served as Clerk of the Vestry for a number of years. During my time in North Carolina I have also served as assistant conductor of The Choral Society in Durham and an assistant to the curator of organs at Duke University Chapel. Professionally, I am a member of the American Guild of Organists (since 1964) and the Association of Anglican Musicians (since 1970).