Simply an old piece of cloth to the uninitiated.
For Chaplain Peter Hartwig though, wearing a priest’s collar that once belonged to school co-founder Thomas Wetmore for his own ordination was more than an ode to the past.
Peter’s spiritual journey is very much still developing as we’ve all been witness to these past five years.
Friday afternoon’s priestly ordination was the first of its kind for St. Joseph’s Chapel, which opened in 1907 (seven years after Christ School) and is the oldest continuously-serving Episcopal church in western North Carolina.
Peter, who is our 25th Chaplain, wore a smile as broad as St. Joseph’s transepts at the end of Friday’s ceremony.
Christ School would like to thank the Episcopal Diocese of Western North Carolina for making the ordination possible. Students and faculty were dismissed from classes at 1:30 p.m. so they could take part. Other invited guests included members of the Board of Trustees, alumni, and Peter’s family and friends.
Now, say it together with us … Congratulations, Father Hartwig!
Peter first came to Christ School as Director of Spiritual Life in 2022. It was announced in 2024 – to rapturous applause from the boys – that he would be Chaplain starting with the 2024-25 academic year.
Father Hartwig continued along the path to priesthood, being ordained as a deacon last January.
Peter’s background includes being was an Echols Scholar at the University of Virginia, and receiving his B.A. there in Religious Studies & Classics in 2016. He then went on to receive master’s degrees from the University of Cambridge (Master of Philosophy) and Princeton Theological Seminary (Master of Divinity).
Father Hartwig's employment before Christ School included posts at Northwest University in Kirkland, Wash., and the Westminster Theological Centre in the United Kingdom. He was also a Communications Associate for Global Endowment Management, LP out of Charlotte.
Friday’s Participants
Presiding and Ordaining Bishop
José A. McLoughlin, Bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Western North Carolina and Chief Administrative Officer with The Episcopal Church
Preacher
The Rev. Dr. Richard Foth
Deacon of the Service
The Rev. Brenda Gilbert, Archdean of the Episcopal Diocese of Western North Carolina
Assisting Priest
The Rev. Augusta Anderson, Canon to the Ordinary of the Episcopal Diocese of Western North Carolina
Presenters
Dr. Sean Jenkins
Myles Murphy ‘27
Katherine Schmidgall
The Rev. Kirk Brown P’00
The Rev. Dr. R. Scott White
The Rev. Robert Wetherington
Readers
Dominic Rose ‘28
Benjamin Ayisah-Quaye ‘28
Leader of the Prayers
Betsy Ellis P’24
Verger
TK Wright ‘27
Crucifer
Logan Woolsey ‘27
Torches
Patrick Jaber ‘28
BJ Houston ‘28
Gospel Bearer
Levi Ellison ‘27
Cantor
Dr. Brent Harris P’29
Musicians
Professor Jim Cassarino
Dr. Kevin Seal
Joe Massey ‘65
Teresa Linn P’28