OUR CLERGY

THE REV. BENSON SHELTON

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.

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 had 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 and is currently studying at Divine Mercy University so as to become a certified Spiritual Director.

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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.” Adrianne also runs a photography business (Beatific Visions) and an international photography journal (The Kindred Path) in addition to her “day job.” Adrianne and Ben are the proud parents of three kids: teenage stepdaughter Ravenne, daughter Audrey Beth, son Alasdair, and a spoiled fawn colored Pug.

In Ben’s spare time he loves to read (mainly non-fiction), workout, do Brazilian Jiujitsu (he’s a purple belt), 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.