Welcome

The Reverend Marcia (Johnston) Davenport was born in Detroit, Michigan, along with her twin, Peggy McCormick. At age 6, the twins and their mother, Beth, journeyed to West Berlin, Germany, where Beth married Frank Weeren, a German engineer.

This was the beginning of a long history of international living. In high school, Marcia went from Ferndale, MI to Alexandra College, Dublin to The American School in Switzerland, Lugano. Her family lived in Berlin during her college years. In 1967, Marcia married David F. Johnston. They subsequently lived, and Marcia worked, in Saudi Arabia, Iran, and Hong Kong.

In 1980, Marcia and her family returned to Maryland, where she entered the Pastoral Counseling program at Loyola College, Columbia, MD. It was at this time that Marcia became an active member of Christ Church, Columbia, serving as a vestry member, Christian education committee chair, chalicist, and, most proudly, member of the Baptism Study Group which led to the revised baptismal program and policies at Christ Church. It is these policies that we follow to this day. Her husband, David, and children, Dylan and Lexi, were active in the parish, then followed by Victoria in 1983, who was one of the first infants to participate in the revised baptismal program.

Under the loving guidance of Fr. James Shields, Marcia entered the discernment process for ordained ministry and in 1987, entered Virginia Theological Seminary. She graduated in 1990 and was ordained deacon. The next year, as curate at St. Anne’s Church, Annapolis, Marcia was ordained to the priesthood.

After the death of David, Marcia served as interim Dean of the Cathedral in Easton, and Rector of St. Paul’s Episcopal Church in Trappe, MD.

Marcia and the Rev. Bob Davenport were married at Christ Church, Columbia by Fr. Shields in 1995. Ministries as chaplain of St. Anne’s Day School, Annapolis, and Grace Church, Brunswick followed before moving to the Diocese of Southwest Florida where Marcia served as Assistant to the Rector and Day School Chaplain at St. John’s, Tampa. Her international roots, which had led to establishing a mission ‘sister parish’ relationship with the Maya Quiche seminary in Chichicastenango, Guatemala, were followed by establishing a sister school relationship between St. John’s, Tampa, and Kamaiba Primary School in Kasese, Uganda.

In 2009, Marcia and Bob retired to their beloved Irish cottage in Bruckless, Donegal, Ireland. The Reverend Bob Davenport died in 2011. Marcia lived and served as supply priest and active member of St. Peter’s, Killaghtee Parish in Donegal along with training as a TESL teacher and working short term in a number of European countries when not traveling. Her Irish neighbors teased her about being the ‘Roving Reverend’!

In 2020, Marcia began talks with Fr. Manny about "returning home" to Christ Church to serve as a non-stipendiary associate. Marcia then moved back to Maryland in July of this year and will be enjoying a new home in Columbia as of this week.

Not incidentally, Grame Marcia has five grandchildren ~ Maddie, James, Mia, Rowan, and Penny!

~Manny