ALUMNI SPOTLIGHT: REV. ALEX SHERRILL '93, A LIFELONG JOURNEY IN THE EPISCOPAL TRADITION

Reverend Alex Sherrill ’93 describes himself as a “Cradle Episcopalian.” Alex and his two sisters, Catherine '89 and Courtney ‘86, attended CCES for a number of years, and though he did not graduate from Christ Church, he ascribes much of his personal and spiritual formation to the time he spent there.

Alex did not have what one might call the “typical student experience.” His mother, Brenda, was a teacher at the school for many years and his father, Bob, served on the Board of Trustees. Needless to say, he spent much of his time in and out of the classroom at school, which at the time was housed at the Christ Church Episcopal in downtown Greenville. Many of his fondest memories growing up took place at the church and this created in him a lasting “warm spot.” Little did he know at the time, his childhood marked just the beginning of the many hours he would spend in the church. 

When Alex was eleven years old, his family moved to Atlanta. On the hunt for a community similar to the one he left behind, he found a friend who attended St. Luke’s Episcopal Church. The church once again became a place where he felt most at home. Though he eventually left upon moving to college, this budding relationship with St. Luke’s would have a lasting impact later in his life. 

While attending the University of Georgia, Alex met his wife, Anna. When Anna graduated, they decided to return to St. Luke’s as their church home and were married there. After a two-year stint as a stay-at-home dad with his first of two children, Alex was approached by the Rector at St. Luke’s asking if he could be the interim Youth Director for a year. Though originally intended to be a temporary position, Alex quickly realized that working in the Church was where he was meant to be. 

This epiphany began (or really continued) a lifelong journey in the field of faith. With a renewed commitment to ministry, Alex graduated in May 2020 with a Master of Divinity from the Candler School of Theology at Emory University and was ordained a Priest in June. He now serves full-time as the Assistant to the Rector in ministry to Children, Youth, and Families at St. Bartholomew’s Episcopal Church in Atlanta - a role that he dearly loves.

Reflecting upon his path to ministry, he harkens back to his time at CCES - “a place that always made me feel welcomed and loved.” Christ Church was his home, and he is grateful for how it shaped him. When asked what the Episcopal Tradition means to him, he quickly responded, “It means a place where reason and thinking are not left at the door - that questioning is allowed. People can come with their questions and doubts and be accepted and loved.” Alex found that place at CCES and is encouraged to hear it continues to be that place for many others who have followed in his footsteps. 

Though he has not been back in many years, he has been pleasantly surprised by the many ways in which CCES has continued to impact him. He fondly remembers a time many years after leaving Christ Church, when he crossed paths with one of his old teachers, Ethel McCreary. Ethel worked at Kanuga Camp & Conference Center in North Carolina following her tenure at CCES, and Alex’s church at the time had its annual parish retreat there. One year, as Alex checked in, she recognized his last name and face though many years had passed since they last saw one another. Every year following this initial meeting, they had a “mini reunion” until she died in 2012. Upon reflection, Alex summed up his thoughts by saying, “I love that no matter how large the world seems you can still run into CCES Alumni.”