Our Clergy
The Rev. Michael Dunnington-Interim Preist in Charge
The Rev. Jerre Birdsong
deacon
The Rev. Dr. Teresa K.M. Danieley, Priest Associate
The Rev. Michael Dunnington is an “officially” retired priest of the Diocese of Missouri. “Officially,” because he has found that you really can’t stay totally retired.
The Rev. Dunnington was raised in the Roman Catholic church, and early on felt a call to priesthood. After graduating from St. Louis University High School in 1963, he entered the Society of Jesus (Jesuits), where he spent 7 years learning about Ignatian spirituality/prayer, earning both a BA (Philosophy and Letters) degree and an MA (American History) degree from St. Louis University. He went to Belize to teach (part of the Jesuit formation program) at St. John’s College, where he discovered that he didn’t have a calling to priesthood in the Roman Church and returned to lay life.
Since joining the Episcopal Church during a career in industrial marketing and sales (during which time, he earned an MBA degree from SIU-E), the Rev. Dunnington again felt a call to priesthood, and moved through “the process” leading to ordination, and spent three years at Sewanee (University of the South) and earned his Master of Divinity degree. He was ordained a priest in the Diocese of North Carolina in 1997, where he served as Assistant Rector in Burlington, and Rector in Henderson. He returned to St. Louis in 2000, and has served as Priest in Charge at Ascension Episcopal Church (2004-2010), then at All Saints for several years (2010-2019), and finally oversaw the merger of the two parishes.
More recently, he has served as Priest in Charge at St. Barnabas in Florissant (July, 2019 – June, 2020), and served for several months as Interim Priest at St. John’s, Tower Grove. Most recently, the Rev. Dunnington served as Interim Pastor at St. Stephen’s, Ferguson for just over a year (June, 2022 – July, 2023).
In addition to his priestly jobs, the Rev. Dunnington has taught Latin at Chaminade College Prep School, at Parkway West High School, and at the Collegiate School of Medicine and Bioscience in St. Louis.
In his free time, the Rev. Dunnington enjoys playing golf, fishing, grilling/cooking, and model railroading. The Rev. Dunnington and his wife, Leslie, live in St. Louis County.
I have served as deacon at St. Mark’s since my ordination by Bishop George Wayne Smith in November 2014. I previously served as candidate for the diaconate at Trinity Church in the Central West End and postulant at Emmanuel Church in Webster Groves after graduating from the Episcopal School for Ministry in 2004. Following my retirement from Ameren Corp., I received a graduate certificate in Non-profit Management and Leadership from UMSL with an internship at BJC Hospice.
My ministry focus is immigration through the Interfaith Committee on Latin America and social services through Isaiah 58 Ministries. I have spent many years on non-profit boards addressing low-income housing, children’s advocacy, hunger ministry, and the YMCA of Greater St. Louis.
I continue to be inspired for outreach ministry by my wife Gayle who died in 2010. I have two adult daughters in the St. Louis area and two grandchildren who call me by the coolest grandpa name ever – Big Dude.
The Rev. Dr. Teresa Danieley, a priest for over 17 years, is pleased to serve as Priest Associate at St. Mark's, having worshiped at St. Mark's for several years with her husband, Jonathan, and their three young children. Teresa+ serves as the St. Louis Champions Organizer at Missouri Jobs with Justice and previously served as Rector of St. John's, Tower Grove for 12 years. Teresa+ has a BA from Yale University, an MPP from the University of Chicago, an MDiv from the General Theological Seminary and a DMin from Eden Theological Seminary. She is a Board member of Sanctuary in the Ordinary (affordable housing redevelopment) and volunteers with the Mann Elementary School PTO, Metro Trans Umbrella Group Pantry Deliveries, Faith Aloud and the Yale Club of St. Louis. Teresa enjoys traveling with her family and learning about French language and culture at the Alliance Francaise de St. Louis.
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Our Support Staff
Organist & Choir Director,
Dr. Barbara Raedeke
Dr. Raedeke is a faculty member at Washington University and holds a Bachelor of Music degree in church music from Valparaiso University, and a Master of Music and a Doctor of Musical Arts from the Eastman School of Music. She performs widely and has served churches in St. Louis, New York, and Connecticut. A member of St. Mark’s, she served on the committee that oversaw the selection and installation of the church’s Juget-Sinclair organ.
Parish Administrator, Melissa Engle
Melissa was born and raised in south St. Louis. A devoted St. Louis Cardinal's fan, Melissa also enjoys spending her free time with her two daughters. She received a B.A. in Psychology from UMSL. Melissa became the parish administrator in December of 2020. She has previous experience as an administrative assistant as well as customer service.
Youth Christian Formation, Celeste Kocot
Celeste has cared for the children at St. Mark’s for over 40 years. She began as a nursery care worker, then was asked to teach the Sunday school program “Living the Good News”. In 1996, the “Godly Play” curriculum was introduced, and continues for children three through seven years old. Celeste made all of the “Godly Play” materials, including over 100 wooden figures and other story pieces. Every year, she presents a new theme for the summer classes.
She also works with the children in the community garden, the Garden of Eatin’, located on the church property. The garden provides a great outdoor classroom for presenting many Bible lessons. In addition to enjoying the work of youth Christian formation, Celeste is happy to be teaching some of the children of parents who attended her class when they were children.
Celeste’s weekday job is working for Life Uniform / Scrubs and Beyond as the Advertising Coordinator. She enjoys photography and working on her classic car.
Organist & Choirmaster Emeritus, Robert Mullgardt
Organist & Choirmaster of St. Mark’s Episcopal Church 1963-1976 and 1999-June 4, 2017. Upon his retirement the designation of Organist and Choirmaster Emeritus was conferred upon Bob by the vestry.