Rev. Thomas J. Pettigrew, Rector
Rev. Thomas J. Pettigrew was called and elected to be the 20th Rector of St. George’s Church on September 3, 2023.
Fr. Pettigrew is a native of this area, growing up in Stillwater, Saratoga County. He did his undergraduate work at SUNY Albany, graduating with a B.A. degree in European History. In his younger days, he attended Bethesda Episcopal Church in Saratoga, learning under their Rector, The Reverend Thomas T. Parke, who was a former Curate at St George’s. Fr. Pettigrew quickly found his niche in the life of the parish and was encouraged to consider ordination to the sacred priesthood.
Fr. Pettigrew accepted that Call and attended Nashotah House Theological Seminary in Nashotah, WI, certainly the pre-eminent Anglo-Catholic seminary in the Episcopal Church today. Fr. Pettigrew graduated cum laude in 2011 with a Master of Divinity degree. He served a time as Deacon at Christ Church, Cooperstown and later at Bethesda Church until he was ordained to the priesthood in December 2011.
Fr. Pettigrew accepted a Call as Rector to the Church of the Holy Cross in Warrensburg, where he served for 10 years. It is notable that a son of St George’s, The Reverend Canon Charles B. King, Jr. preceded Fr. Pettigrew as Rector of Holy Cross, as did an interim assignment by The Very Reverend Marshall J. Vang, the 16th Rector of St George’s and Dean Emeritus of the Cathedral of All Saints. You can almost see God’s hand at work in forging the connections that were unknowingly developing between Fr. Pettigrew and St George’s.
Fr. Pettigrew is 39 years old. He is theologically strong, celebrates the Mass beautifully, chants well and preaches compelling and thoughtful sermons without notes.
He serves on the Diocesan Council and was a member of the Diocesan Profile & Search Committee, discerning God’s will as they sought the 10th Bishop of Albany.
In his spare time, Fr. Pettigrew is an avid ham radio buff, a lover of the outdoors and a lover of history, enjoying roles in historical re-enactments. He also is a certified EMT, doing nighttime ambulance duty each week as a way of staying grounded in the community.
We welcome Fr. Pettigrew as the 20th Rector of St. George’s Church!
Father Pettigrew lives in the Historic Stockade district of Schenectady in our beautiful rectory overlooking the Mohawk River and dating back to the 1750’s.