Nicole Hanley, a priest of St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church in Walden and St. Francis of Assisi Chapel Montgomery, was instituted as priest-in-charge for both churches last Saturday, March 13 during a ceremony at St. Andrew’s. The event also doubled as a celebration of a new ministry between St. Andrew’s and St. Francis.

Hanley was born and raised in Syracuse before moving to the Bronx in 2003 and the Village of Walden in 2022. She graduated from The Episcopal Divinity School at Union Theological Seminary in May 2022 and previously worked as a marketing manager for Wiley, an academic book publisher, among similar positions in the publishing industry. Hanley has loved living in Walden and greatly appreciates the village’s camaraderie, the events throughout the year, and the village square’s conveniences.

“Walden is a very close-knit community, people are very friendly. I especially appreciate all the community events that are planned, like the tree lighting, which are always wonderful,” she said. “I particularly love being right in the village square; everything is close by. The libraries are right there, the PBF Cafe is right there, which is lovely.”

Hanley was ordained as a deacon for St. Andrew’s and St. Francis in March 2022, began serving both churches in August, and was ordained as a priest in September. She and the church’s members engage in various facets of their communities, including donating to the Montgomery Food Pantry, providing pet ministries, and supporting veterans. She also assists St. Andrew’s with its annual diorama contest and St. Francis with its massive yard sales twice a year.
To Hanley, her priesthood is an opportunity to nourish her communities, both spiritually and literally.

“I wanted to be able to feed others with the sacrament of the Eucharist, and also in the larger community,” she said. “By being a support to people by being a pastoral care teacher, and also somebody who could physically help feed people like what we do with the Montgomery Food Pantry.”

Saturday’s celebration featured litanies from Bishop Mary Glasspool and the clergy of both churches, psalms, and refreshments following the reception. Hanley also received several offerings of varying symbolism, including water, olive oil, bread, books, keys to the church, and even a Peep marshmallow figure.

“Just wanted to take this opportunity to thank everybody who is here. This really is about all of us doing the work, it’s about us going out into the world and being a Eucharist for the world so that we can build up others in love,” Hanley said at the ceremony. “I want to especially thank my clergy colleagues who are here, thank you for coming and supporting me. It’s such a joy to be working with you for the greater good of the Walden community.”