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Staff
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The Rev'd Stephen John Batten, -  Rector

A native of Williamston, North Carolina, Stephen attended Martin County Schools.  His father, Welch, was a pharmacist and his mother, Jeanne, taught Chemistry at Williamston High School for 37 years.  Stephen received his Bachelor of Arts (Religion/Islamic Studies) in 1989 at Duke University and his Juris Doctor in 1993 at The University of North Carolina School of Law in Chapel Hill.

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After a twenty year career as an immigration attorney in North Carolina, Florida, Louisiana and Mississippi, he attended the Virginia Theological Seminary in Alexandria, Virginia and graduated with a Master of Divinity on May 17, 2018.

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Stephen began his ordained ministry in the summer of 2018, and was ordained presbyter on December 16, 2018. He served as Deacon in Charge, Priest in Charge and  Rector of Trinity Episcopal Church in Chocowinity, North Carolina from July 2018 until August 2024.  

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He accepted the call to become Rector of Hungars Cure Parish and began life on the Shore in mid-September 2024.

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Stephen has served on various Boards and Committees of the Diocese of East Carolina prior to and after seminary. Stephen served on the Executive Council (2020-2024), was a Deputy to the 80th General Convention of The Episcopal Church in Baltimore, sat on the Worship & Liturgy Committee (2020-2024), and chaired the Committee on Constitution and Canons (2022-2024) and as Chair of the Special Joint Committee on Resolutions/Constitution and Canons for the 139th Annual Diocesan Convention.  
 

 

Eric Dolch, Sr. - Director of Music & Organist

Originally from the Pine Barrens of South Jersey, Eric moved from New Hampshire to Virginia Beach in the summer of 2022 with his wife Mary (Organist & Choirmaster at Galilee Church, Virginia Beach) and their two young sons, Eric Jr. (5) and Abraham (3). Eric most recently served as the Director of Sacred Music & Organist at St. Stanislaus Catholic Church in Nashua, NH where he oversaw a vibrant, growing music program of several staff and a large children chorister program. Eric also served a number of churches throughout NJ and CT, including as Director of Music & Organist at the National Historic Church of St. Nicholas of Tolentine in Atlantic City, and St. Luke’s Episcopal Parish in Darien. During his time in NJ, Eric served on the board and as Sub-Dean of the Southeast Jersey Chapter of the American Guild of Organists. In his free time, Eric enjoys spending time outdoors camping, hunting, kayaking, and hiking with his family and dogs Hildegard (Newfoundland) and Stevie (Great Dane/Lab mix).

 

Eric has been familiar with the Eastern Shore and Hungars Cure since 2008 when he began vacationing with friends at Smith Beach. One day while walking the beach, he met local organist Eileen Chapman who arranged a place for Eric to practice while vacationing on the Shore..."a lovely little church next to a corn field", Christ Church. Showing that we can never expect the path God has set out for us, 14 years later Eric joined the staff as Director of Music & Organist.

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Eric can be reached by email at hungarscuremusic@gmail.com

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