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
Susan Wilson joined us in August 2009 after serving churches in North and South Carolina, and Kentucky. After adopting two daughters--Bella Rose and Anne Mallott--Susan and her husband, Tom, lived in La Jolla, California. There they participated in St. James by the Sea Episcopal Church, while she took a “motherhood sabbatical.” Susan wants you to sincerely consider joining one of the choirs at St. Matthew's. Check back for more information.
Gabriel Mayer, Youth Minister
Gabriel joined the staff in September 2009, having graduated from Davidson College this past May. While growing up in the Episcopal Church, Gabriel has been a member of Third Prebyterian for the past six years, where he served as a Youth Intern. When asked what the youth parents might expect, he responded, "a youth minister who cares for your children, who loves Jesus and the Gospels, who will share this love with you and your children for encouragement, and who is striving to learn and be teachable."
Read an interview with Gabriel.
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 and Todd have been married for 17 years and have three sons, Mack, Hank, and Jacob. In her free time, she is pursuing a BFA in Crafts, a BA in International Studies focusing on the Mediterranean Basin, and a minor in Italian from VCU. 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.