About Clarke Parish

To know, love, and serve God – to represent Him in this community; that through our faith and witness, in word and deed, others may come to know, love and serve Him as well. 

It is our intent as a community of Christians to deepen our faith through the praise and worship of God, the Sacraments of the Church, the study of the Bible, and Fellowship with one another.

As we deepen our knowledge and love of God, we intend also to serve him more faithfully, both individually as Christians interacting with our neighbors, and corporately as a Church using our various committees, organizations, buildings and other resources to make evident in the community the love, righteousness, mercy, and goodness of God Almighty.

Our Staff

The Very Reverend Justin A. Ivatts

The Very Reverend Justin Ivatts was born and grew up in London, England. Justin studied theology at Westminster College, Oxford and graduated from the University of Oxford in 1998. Justin moved to the USA in 2003 and held various positions in marketing, firstly in academic publishing and then in healthcare. Justin entered Virginia Theological Seminary in 2012 from where he received a Masters in Divinity in 2015. Justin was ordained deacon by The Right Reverend Shannon Johnston in June 2015 and priest by The Right Reverend Susan Goff in December 2015. Since ordination Justin served as Assistant Rector at St. John’s, McLean before coming to Clarke Parish as Priest in Charge in September 2018. In October 2020, the joint vestries of Clarke Parish elected Justin to be their Rector. Justin has a particular academic and practical interest in pilgrimage and has led several overseas pilgrimages. Justin has a passion for preaching and teaching and above all for walking the way of Christ with anyone who enters our doors. Justin is married to Heather, a registered nurse, and has one son, Miles, who was born in 2008 and is adopted from South Korea.

Dr. Caroline Mitchell Seminarian

Caroline grew up in Montgomery County, Maryland and ventured off after high school eventually landing in Colorado. In between she received a BA in Sociology from LeMoyne College in Syracuse, New York an MS in Rural Sociology and a Ph.D. in Sociology from South Dakota State University. Professionally, she has taught in the areas of Sociology and Criminal Justice and has worked with municipal governments, fire, EMS, law enforcement and emergency management. Caroline is currently a Pathways to Ministry student at Virginia Theological Seminary. Life is most fun when hanging out with her dogs, playing hockey mountain/cross/road biking or an evening of pickleball.

Robin Trumbower McFillen Parish Administrator Director of Christian Education & Youth Programs

Robin joined the staff of Clarke Parish in September 2007. She is a jack-of-all-trades helping to keep us on track and making sure the office runs smoothly. Robin’s job description does not stop with bulletins, newsletters, and day-to-day operations. She has a much broader role and makes much of what happens at Clarke Parish come to life. Everything from organizing Shrine Mont retreats, keeping our Christian Education program and youth activities vibrant, initiating fun Outreach projects for Operation Christmas Child and ERD’s Gift for Life campaign, facility rentals, chili cook-offs and pancake feasts, and even leaky toilets and broken door handles – she wears many hats. Robin is a dedicated employee (and friend). We are blessed to have her on our team!

Wendy Oesterling Clarke Parish Director of Music
Organist and Choir Director – Grace Episcopal Church.

Wendy Oesterling and her husband, Jim Greene, and young son Matt moved to Winchester from Falls Church in 1995, finding a community which quickly became “home.” She says those 25+ years have been filled with wonderful music opportunities, always to the glory of God. From 1995-January 2020, Wendy served as Music Director at Emmanuel Episcopal Church in Middleburg, where she founded the Piedmont Singers, a music ministry outreach, in 1999. The Piedmont Singers have sung guest residencies at Wells Cathedral, Canterbury Cathedral, St. Patrick’s Cathedral (Dublin), York Minster, and Christ Church Cathedral (Oxford). Wendy taught choral and IB Music at Clarke County High School 2003-2008 and choral and orchestral music at Liberty High School in Fauquier County 2008-2016. Since 2016, Wendy has been Director of Development for Bethania Kids Foundation, a ministry that serves 1,000 indigent children in India. She has been an active participant in Winchester Musica Viva chamber choir since 1995. She earned a BMus in Organ and Church Music from Wittenberg University, and a MChMus from Shenandoah University. She also oversees the music program at St Mary’s and is the musician supervisor. Wendy is delighted to have the opportunity to praise God through music with the people of Grace Church!

Bette Milleson Treasurer

Halley Outland St. Mary’s Musician

I’m a current student at Clarke County High School. I’ve played piano for 11 years. I love sharing music with others and seeing the joy it brings to people!

Mr. Darrell Chapman Sexton

Mr. Chapman handles the everyday maintenance and custodial care of our church campus.