St. James to install new priest

OLD TOWN – The Rev. Susan M. Lederhouse will be installed in a celebration of new ministry at 4 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 11, at St. James’ Episcopal Church, corner of Center and Main streets. The Rev. Chilton R. Knudsen, Episcopal Bishop of Maine, will preside.

Following a 20-month period of self-study and discernment, the people of St. James’ Church issued a call to Lederhouse last fall. She and her husband, Bruce, have purchased a house in Old Town and arrived in early January. She led her first service at St. James’ Church on Sunday, Jan. 21.

Before her ordination in 2005, Lederhouse served for 25 years as a librarian in Massachusetts, North Carolina, Tennessee and Florida.

She attended Hollins College, Roanoke Va., then earned a master’s degree in library science from the University of Illinois-Urbana. She studied for the ministry at General Theological Seminary, New York City, and most recently served as assistant rector at St. Mary’s Church, Sparta, N.J.

“I have had a love affair with the state of Maine since 1966 when I first came to vacation at a cottage in Jonesport,” Lederhouse said. “My parents eventually bought that cottage and I have continued to come back year after year, often flying in and out of Bangor. My husband and I spent our honeymoon at the cottage, as well.”

St. James’ congregation has been worshiping in Old Town for 158 years since its incorporation in 1849. The present building was completed in 1893 and the first service held in January 1894. The church was designed by noted architect Henry Vaughn, who also designed the National Cathedral in Washington, D.C., as well as numerous other churches, chapels and school buildings. In 1974 St. James’ Church was placed on the National Register of Historic Places.