Rector Pat Close is saying farewell after 21 years of service to Grace Episcopal Church in Haddonfield.
Rector Pat Close is saying farewell after 21 years of service to Grace Episcopal Church in Haddonfield.
During college at the University of Maryland, Close studied English with the intention to write the “great American novel” until he discovered that life events would eventually lead him to the church.
“The call to ministry was there most of my life,” Close said. “There was always something pulling me toward the church.”
One of the many circumstances that led him to the church occurred when his father passed away suddenly of a heart attack while Close was just a teenager. He revealed to the priest that he felt a calling to priesthood; however, the priest told him to finish college and get married before following his call, saying “If God wants you, God will call back.”
After Close married his wife, Diane, and graduated college as an English major, God eventually called. While working for a trade association in Washington, D.C., his good friend, the Rev. Ralph Bayfield in Herndon, Va., had undergone surgery. Acting as a support system, Close and his wife had gone to visit him, and in the fog of waking up after surgery, Bayfield looked at Close and said, “Pat, it’s time we got you ordained.”
The rest was history for Close.
“Diane and I were always involved with the church,” Close said.
Over the last few decades, the Closes have connected with members of the community in the midst of some of the most intimate and important days of their lives. Performing hundreds of funerals, weddings and baptisms, Close admits he will cherish the friendships he has formed in town and says they have become family.
“You can’t be with these people for that long and not miss them,” Close said. “It’s the people, that’s why we were here for as long as we were.”
Diane, who doubles as a singer in the church choir and a lay reader, is also heavily involved in the church’s book group, Bible study and women’s group. According to Close, Diane has helped him be successful in his capacity as rector of Grace Church.
After 43 years of marriage, the couple says the people who work for and with the church are the ones who have accomplished a lot, not them.
The couple believes public outreach is one of the church’s strengths. Whether the interfaith hospitality outreach committee is housing homeless men during the winter or the church is helping to run a thrift shop where half of the funds raised go to outreach projects, it is safe to say Grace Church is actively involved in helping those in and outside of the community.
“We try to engage with the community as much as possible,” Close said.
After leaving the church, the Closes expect to still stay involved as much as possible.
The couple is excited to spend more time with their family but will hold all of the memories from Grace Church close to their heart. Close’s favorite memory, along with Diane’s, is getting to know the people who make Haddonfield such an inviting place to live.
“My favorite memories are just being able to know everyone in town,” Diane said. “I think it is a lot of fun.”
The Closes look forward to spending more time with their family, helping Diane’s parents and especially getting acquainted with their first grandchild who was welcomed to the world just a few weeks ago.
“With all of the new family stuff going on, I think we will be busy enough this next year,” Close said with a grin ear to ear.
