Meet Our Clergy and Staff
Charles D. Alley, Rector
Chuck Alley became Rector of St. Matthew's on August 15, 1994, having served as an assistant at Truro Episcopal in Northern Virginia. He was called into ministry from a career in medical research. Chuck has a Ph.D. in anatomy and has both taught and conducted research in immunology and cell biology. Since becoming Rector he has served on several ethics committees pertaining to science and religion and medical research at Virginia Commonwealth University's Medical College of Virginia. Chuck and his wife, Scottie, have three children (two married) and four grandchildren. He views his avocation in furniture building as a God-given gift of historical tradition.
As a member of the Communion Partners Clergy, Chuck traveled in April 2010 to Singapore. He preached at St. Andrew's Cathedral, investigated mission opportunities there, and attended the Fourth Anglican Global South to South Encounter as an invited observer. Click here to read his reflections on the Encounter.
Mario Gonzalez del Solar, Assistant Rector
Mario Gonzalez del Solar was born in Guatemala to an American mother and Argentine father and grew up in the suburbs of Washington, D.C. with no religious background. He became a Christian in 1975 and was ordained in 1985, serving congregations in Florida and Richmond before coming to St. Matthew’s in 2004. Mario’s chief responsibility is pastoral care. He is trained in group process and family systems, and received the Doctor of Ministry from Trinity School for Ministry in 2005. Mario and Barbara have three grown children and one grandchild. He enjoys Scripture, theology, music, movies, travel, and family time. You can reach by email.
Mario made two postings on August 27, 2009, on the Web site of Evangelical Parishes and People in the Episcopal Church. One posting reviews the book Evangelism Through the Local Church, and the other presents the history of evangelism within the Diocese of Virginia, using excepts from the Web site of Diocese.
Susan H. Wilson, Director of Music Ministries and Organist
As Director of Music Ministries and organist, Susan directs and oversees the church’s fully graded choir program which includes vocal ensembles as well a handbell choir and an instrumental ensemble.
Susan Wilson grew up in Newberry, South Carolina. At a young age she began taking piano lessons and throughout high school she played in the band and served as an accompanist at a Lutheran Church. She entered Newberry College as a clarinet major but eventually took organ lessons “just for fun”. What started out as a fun adventure evolved into a happy and successful career as an organist. She graduated with a Bachelor’s Degree in Church Music from Newberry College. She went on to do her graduate studies at Scarritt Graduate School in Nashville, Tennessee. She studied organ with Janette Fishell and Wilma Jensen and choral conducting with Sandra Willetts. After receiving a Masters Degree in Church Music, with an emphasis in organ, she served churches in full time music ministry in South Carolina, North Carolina, and Kentucky. In 1999 Susan and her husband, Tom, adopted their daughter Bella Rose from China. They returned to China in 2002 to adopt Anne Mallott. After taking a nine-year motherhood sabbatical and living in La Jolla, California, Susan and her family found their way to Richmond and to St. Matthew’s in August of 2009.
Jill Rich, Director of Christian Education
Jill Rich has been a member of St. Matthew’s since 2005 and the Director of Christian Education since 2007. Jill is married to Todd and they have three sons, Mack, Hank, and Jacob. She holds a BFA from Virginia Commonwealth University in Craft/Material Studies with a concentration in metalsmithing. When not at St. Matthew's, she can be found in her studio, at her sewing machine, volunteering at the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts or walking the family dog with Todd. She enjoys seeking God and relishing in His beauty with her family, other staff members, and parishioners of St. Matthew’s.
Mark Hopkins, Parish Administrator
Mark and his wife Shirley moved from East Providence, Rhode Island, to Richmond in 1998, and joined St. Matthew’s. He became Parish Administrator in 2007 and has a background in Logistics and Distribution. Mark has a keen interest in sports—playing golf and passionately watching sports on television. From his accent one can easily guess (“as if you can’t tell”) his favorite sports teams all come from Boston. Mark and Shirley have two grown children Christine and Rich and one grandson, Jack.