"Christians joyfully and prayerfully building a caring and worshipping community"

The Reverend Mark C. Bigley
Priest –in-Charge                                                                           May 2011



Fr. Mark moved to Ringgold, Georgia with his wife Kathy in 2009, feeling called to return near to the land of his ancestors. He has served parishes in Texas, Colorado, Wyoming and Ohio, as a chaplain-teacher in Episcopal Schools in Texas and as a supply priest in East Tennessee and Georgia. He graduated from The Episcopal Theological Seminary in Virginia with a Master of Divinity and later graduated from Ashland Theological Seminary with a M.A. in Pastoral Psychology and Counseling. Fr. Mark became a bi-vocational priest in 2001 and after attending the University of Texas system, later graduated with a Masters in Social Work and a Certificate in Marriage and Family Counseling from Wayne State University. He is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker in Tennessee and Georgia. While serving churches, Fr. Mark has also worked in the mental health field and in hospices as a counselor and a medical social worker.

Mark’s foremost interest is in spiritual direction and healing. He studies healing while teaching and applying the biblical science of essential oils for healing as a Certified Clinical Aromatherapies’. Mark also enjoys teaching and preaching, especially children’s’ sermons. He practices and teaches contemplative prayer. In the past he has been involved with Cursillo, Kairos Prison Ministry and the Episcopal Order of St. Luke the Physician, a healing ministry.

Mark’s wife, Kathy works as a Physical Therapist and Licensed Clinical Social Worker. They enjoy, “Shiloh”, their Yorkshire terrier, nature and the remote outdoors, spending quiet time in their new country home north east of Ringgold. Their interests include gardening, music (classical and bluegrass), history, reading, fishing and studying holistic health. From time to time they also take in baseball and college football. Mark has two grown daughters who live in Alabama and Texas. Kathy has a grown daughter who lives in Chattanooga.

Fr. Mark’s greatest enjoyment comes from being a vessel through which the Spirit moves persons more deeply into their baptismal covenant, growing into their identity and ministry as children of God.

"the little church with a big heart"