Jennifer McKenzie (priest)

Jennifer Gaines McKenzie (born 1963)[1] is an American Anglican priest. She served as the Archdeacon of Wigan and West Lancashire in the Diocese of Liverpool, Church of England, 2015–2021; and had previously been a priest in the Diocese of Washington and the Diocese of Virginia in the Episcopal Church (United States).


Jennifer McKenzie
Archdeacon of Wigan and West Lancashire
ChurchChurch of England
DioceseDiocese of Liverpool
In officeNovember 2015 – July 2021
PredecessorNew post
Orders
OrdinationJune 2004 (deacon)
by Peter James Lee
January 2005 (priest)
by Charles Keyser
Personal details
Born1963 (age 60–61)
NationalityAmerican
DenominationAnglicanism
SpouseKen
ChildrenThree
Alma materAuburn University
Virginia Theological Seminary

Early life and education

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McKenzie was born in 1963 in Pensacola, Florida, United States.[1][2] She studied at Auburn University in Alabama, United States, graduating with a Bachelor of Arts (BA) degree in 1988:[3] she majored in French and minored in visual arts.[2] She studied and trained for Holy Orders at Virginia Theological Seminary, an Episcopal seminary, graduating with a Master of Divinity (M.Div.) degree in 2004.[3]

Ordained ministry

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McKenzie was ordained in the Episcopal Church as a deacon in June 2004 by Peter James Lee, Bishop of Virginia, during a service at Washington National Cathedral.[2][3] On 6 January 2005, she was ordained as a priest by Charles L. Keyser, her cousin, the retired Bishop of the Armed Forces, during a service at St David's Episcopal Church in Washington, D.C.[2] From 2004 to 2007, she served as Assistant Rector at St David's Episcopal Church, Washington, D.C.[4] where she had served as seminarian from 2002-2004. She was then Associate Rector of Christ Church, Alexandria, Virginia from July 2007 to March 2009, and Interim Associate Rector of the Church of the Good Shepherd, Burke, Virginia from June 2011 to December 2012.[4] Then, from May 2012 to August 2013, she was priest-in-charge of Epiphany Episcopal Church (Oak Hill, Virginia) in Fairfax County, Virginia.[4][3]

In August 2015, it was announced that McKenzie would join the Diocese of Liverpool in the Church of England as Archdeacon of Wigan and West Lancashire.[5] On 14 November 2015, she was collated and installed as archdeacon during a service in Liverpool Cathedral.[6] She resigned her archdeaconry on 31 July 2021 to return to America.[7]

Having returned to the United States, McKenzie has been Dean's advisor for new initiatives at Virginia Theological Seminary since 1 September 2021.[8]

Personal life

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McKenzie is married to Ken; together, they have three children.[9]

References

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  1. ^ a b "McKenzie, Jennifer Haines". Who's Who. Vol. 2019 (1 December 2018 online ed.). A & C Black. Retrieved 3 January 2019. (Subscription or UK public library membership required.)
  2. ^ a b c d "Allow Me To Introduce Myself". The Reverend Mother. Retrieved 5 August 2017.
  3. ^ a b c d "Jennifer Gaines McKenzie". Crockford's Clerical Directory (online ed.). Church House Publishing. Retrieved 18 April 2017.
  4. ^ a b c "McKENZIE, Ven. Jennifer Gaines". Who's Who 2017. Oxford University Press. November 2016. Retrieved 18 April 2017.
  5. ^ "Our new Archdeacons Designate". Diocese of Liverpool. 9 August 2015. Retrieved 18 April 2017.
  6. ^ "Bishop Paul collates new Archdeacons". Diocese of Liverpool. 13 November 2015. Retrieved 18 April 2017.
  7. ^ "Archdeacon Jennifer appointed to new role at Virginia Theological Seminary". Diocese of Liverpool. Retrieved 5 August 2021.
  8. ^ "The Ven. Jennifer McKenzie Joins Seminary Community". Virginia Theological Seminary. 7 May 2021. Retrieved 5 August 2021.
  9. ^ "Meet Revd Jennifer McKenzie". Diocese of Liverpool. Retrieved 18 April 2017.
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