OUR CLERGY
STEPHANIE WERNER
Deacon
Stephanie Shareck Werner is an ordained deacon in the Episcopal Church, serving the people and community surrounding the historic St. Paul’s Church, across from the Hanover County Courthouse. Deacons are called to represent Christ and the Church, especially by serving the poor, the weak, the sick, and the lonely. They also assist in proclaiming the Gospel and administering the sacraments.
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Stephanie is a 2025 graduate of the St. Phoebe’s School for Deacons, the Episcopal Diocese of Virginia’s program of academic, practical, and spiritual formation for servant leaders.
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You can often find Stephanie listening to peoples’ stories and encouraging them in new beginnings. She says that Christ’s own story is a transformation story, and He intends “new life” for every one of His beloved children. This means our stories don’t end with “death,” literal or figurative. Death, powerlessness, or endings are always opportunities to surrender our will and begin anew in Christ. She admires how the people of St. Paul’s practice this.
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Stephanie is a retired professional communicator. She studied language and psychology at Virginia Tech and l’ Universite de Nice, France.
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She is married to Dave since 2001, and they have three grandchildren who make them laugh a lot.
THE REV. BENSON SHELTON
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Rector
The Reverend Benson E. Shelton was born at Langley Airforce Base in Hampton, Virginia, but his childhood took him to Hawaii; Australia; and Chicago, Illinois, before finally settling in his hometown of Martinsville-Henry County, Virginia.
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After earning a Bachelor of Science, magna cum laude in Philosophy and Religious Studies and Psychology at Radford University, Ben spent one year serving as an AmeriCorps VISTA*(Domestic Peace Corps) in the New River Valley working in an After-School Program for At-Risk Youth. During that time, he also worked with the Episcopal Canterbury Campus Ministries at Radford University and Virginia Tech.
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He received his Master of Divinity from Virginia Theological Seminary in Alexandria in 2010. Before coming to St. Paul’s, he was the Rector of St. Stephen’s, Culpeper for six years. Prior to that he served as Associate Rector in Great Falls and as a Deacon in Charge in Martinsville, Virginia. In 2018 Ben earned an Executive Certificate in Nonprofit Leadership & Management from the University of Notre Dame. Later he would go on to do a Certificate in Spiritual Direction at Divine Mercy University which he completed in 2024. Ben is currently pursuing a PhD in the Philosophy of Religion at California Institute of Integral Studies (CIIS).
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Ben’s wife, Adrianne, is originally from Richmond and is Director of Operations of a Surgical Sales Company (Medworks Surgical) in Richmond. Adrianne and Ben met while at Radford University in a course on “Religious Experiences.” In addition to her full-time job, Adrianne also runs a photography business (Beatific Visions) and an international photography journal (The Kindred Path). Adrianne and Ben are the proud parents of three kids: Ravenne (20), daughter Audrey Beth (12), son Alasdair(5), and two spoiled dogs: a Pug and a Standard Poodle.
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In Ben’s spare time he loves to read (mainly non-fiction), workout, do martial arts, and hang out with his family. He loves preaching and teaching the Gospel of Jesus Christ and believes that Jesus is for all people.
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​​​Fr. Ben is available by appointment. Appointments may be made by calling the office at 804-537-5516 or emailing admin@stpaulshanover.org.