Meet the 32nd Rector of Christ’s Church Rye,
the Rev. Matt Stone
A native of Georgia, Fr. Matt served as Rector of Calvary Episcopal Church in Bastrop, TX, from 2019 to 2025, where his ministry has touched the lives of so many people. He revitalized pastoral care, expanded outreach and youth programming, and strengthened engagement with the wider community, including by turning church events into town-wide celebrations and establishing an annual concert series. As chair of the board of trustees of Calvary Episcopal School, he also oversaw a successful $8.5 million capital campaign to design a new school campus.
In its recommendation to the Vestry, the Search Committee said that Fr. Matt’s profound spirituality had shone through at many moments during the search process. He approaches ministry with a warmth, joy and vibrant energy that our parishioners are craving, and has extensive experience in so many of the areas highlighted in our parish profile and survey responses, including pastoral care, outreach, community-building, music programming, children and youth ministries, and religious formation. A passionate preacher and strong advocate for social justice, he also has a proven track record of strong leadership and financial stewardship.
Fr. Matt graduated from Mercer University in 2004 with a BA in political science (with a minor in Christianity) and from Dallas Theological Seminary in 2010 with a Master of Theology. After working in local government in Georgia and as a hospital chaplain in Colorado for several years, he studied for a diploma in Anglican Studies at the Seminary of the Southwest and was ordained as an Episcopal priest in 2018. He served as Curate of St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church in Bryan, TX, before being called to Calvary Episcopal Church in Bastrop. He was appointed to the board of the Episcopal Foundation of Texas in 2023, and was a 2024 recipient of the Lilly Foundation Clergy and Congregational Renewal Grant.
Fr. Matt joins us with his wife Heather, six-year-old son Henry, and Murphy the dog.
