The Rt. Rev. Charles Bennison was born in Minneapolis in 1943 and raised in Illinois and Michigan. Ordained in 1968, he served as rector of parishes in Los Angeles and Atlanta (1971-1991), taught pastoral theology at the Episcopal Divinity School, Cambridge, Massachusetts (1992-1997), and was the Bishop of the Diocese of Pennsylvania (1997-2012).

He holds a B.A. in history from Lawrence University, Appleton, Wisconsin, and graduate degrees in theology and philosophy from Harvard Divinity School, Claremont Graduate University, Union Theological Seminary of New York City, and the New School for Social Research. He is the author of In Praise of Congregations: Leadership in the Local Church Today. He and his wife now divide their time between Sea Island, Georgia, and Leland, Michigan.

​A native of St. Louis, Jack is a lifelong Episcopalian who has served as Senior Warden, a Vestry member, and Chair of the Rector Search Committee.  In addition, he served as Chairman of the Board of a local Episcopal hospital. Jack’s career included senior executive positions in food equipment, footwear, and community banking businesses.  He has been active in numerous non-profits, both in St. Louis and in Leland, where he and his family first visited circa 1950. When not in Leland, Jack and his wife Betsy reside in Vero Beach, Florida.  They have three children and five grandchildren.

Kate is a lifelong Episcopalian and member of St. Paul’s Episcopal Church (Indianapolis) where she has served as Junior Warden, on the Vestry and Stewardship Committee, and as a longtime member of the choir. ​She helped found Faith, Justice & the Arts, an outreach project using the arts as a vehicle to talk about societal injustice, as well as University High School.  Kate and her husband Dan have three married children who live nearby in Indianapolis. Their five grandchildren range from toddler to high schooler. When in Leland, Kate and Dan reside in the house his paternal grandfather built in 1928.

Sally comes from a long line of Episcopalians, including her great-grandfather, who served as priest in the Diocese of Pennsylvania.  Raised, baptized, and confirmed in Coffeyville, Kansas, Sally’s career was mostly in the technology industry in Chicago.  While living in River Forest, Illinois, Sally attended Grace Episcopal Church and served on the Rector Search Committee. Sally and her husband Dave retired from corporate careers in 2007, and own and manage Shady Lane Market in Suttons Bay.  They have one son, Trey. Sally’s grandfather purchased their family cottage on North Lake Street in the 1930’s.

Bio Pending

Mary travels to Leland from Glen Arbor, where she and husband Brian have summered since 1987. A cradle Episcopalian, she was baptized and confirmed in Trinity Church, Marshall, MI; married at St. Chrysostom’s, Chicago; and currently attends St. Andrew’s in Ann Arbor and  St. Andrew’s in Boca Grande, FL.  There she has served as Treasurer and Chair of the Finance Committee, Chair of the Stewardship Committee, and currently serves as the Clerk of the Vestry. Daughter Elizabeth enjoys a chunk of summer on Glen Lake right next door with husband Stephen and three little people, all transplanted happily from Manhattan to Charlotte, NC. Following a stint of teaching English at a public high school in Fairfield, CT, Mary moved into the world of finance and spent most of her career in Venture Capital. Though primarily “maize & blue” Mary holds an MA from Fairfield University as well as an BA and MBA from University of Michigan and an honorary doctorate from NMU in Marquette. 

Nina, a cradle Episcopalian, serves as Eucharistic minister, and is head of the Altar Guild. In the winter, she serves as a Eucharistic minister at St. Paul’s (Delray Beach, FL), where she and her husband Preston are members. Previously, Nina was active for many years at St. Francis of the Fields (Harrods Creek, KY) teaching Sunday school, singing in the choir, and more. Nina's career was in banking before she retired in 2000. In Louisville, Nina raised two daughters, Caroline McMillen (Bryan) and Houghton Hyatt (Ben), each of whom has two children.  Nina's connection to Leland began in the 1920s when her maternal grandparents began coming to Leland to escape the hot Kentucky summers.

Lee Cory has been a parishioner at St. Peter's for many years. She and her husband, Neal, are members of St. Francis in the Fields in Harrods Creek, Kentucky, where she has served as Vestry member, Daughter of the King, and Sunday School teacher. Lee is an attorney who left the active practice of law when her first daughter was born. Since then, she has worked as a volunteer legal advocate for preservation, conservation, and smart land use. Lee and Neal have two daughters, Stewart Cory-Kline (Eric) and Preston Cory, who are the fourth generation of their family to have Leland roots. Her granddaughter Cy is now the fifth.

Alex is a life-long Episcopalian and has attended St. Peter’s Chapel for many years.  He and his wife Cindy also are members of St. Philip’s Episcopal Church, Joplin, Missouri, where Alex served on the Vestry.  Alex is an attorney who has practiced law for 50+ years and served as a judge for 20 years.  He currently serves as chief legal officer for Crossland Construction Company. Cindy and Alex have three children, Louise Secker (Eric), Alex IV (Anne), and Graham.  They have seven grandchildren who all love Leland.

​Leslie is a year ‘round Leland resident who was formerly active at St. Matthews Episcopal Church (Evanston, IL) where she served as Secretary of the Vestry and on numerous committees & St. Luke’s Episcopal Church (Kalamazoo, MI). She is the Principal of Isthmus Innovation, an innovation strategy consultancy that develops investment stage food technology. Prior roles include Breakthru Innovation at Kellogg’s and Kraft-Heinz Foods. She received her B.A. from the University of Kentucky. Leslie & her husband, Bill McCrory, have two children: Carlie (Beto Brown) and William. She is an avid silent sports enthusiast and delights in preparing the communion bread for St. Peter’s Chapel Celtic Service.

Steve Owsley and his wife Cabrina are members of Christ Church Cathedral in Houston, Texas. Steve is a trial lawyer with the firm Owsley Law Firm, PLLC. Steve and Cabrina have three children, Mansfield, Luciana, and Finnian. Steve’s family connection to Leland began when his great grandfather first came to Leland in 1904.

Phil hails from Louisville, Kentucky and was first introduced to Leland by his wife, Kathy, in 1973.  He received his undergraduate degree from the University of Alabama and a Masters in Business Administration from the University of Kentucky. Following service in the U.S. Coast Guard, Phil returned to Louisville to pursue a rewarding 56 year career in commercial real estate.  Phil and Kathy, along with their children and grandchildren, have a strong orientation towards the Leland community.  While raised a Baptist, Phil has been a member of the Episcopal Church since 1975 and a Eucharistic Minister for over thirty years.

An Atlanta native, Jim has been a confirmed Episcopalian for most of his adult life. Jim has regularly worshipped at St. Peter’s during his many summers in Leland since arriving in 1983. Jim’s career includes executive management with Procter and Gamble, Novartis, LG Electronics and The Viking Range Corporation.

Neal is a lifelong member and former Senior Warden of St. Francis in the Fields in Louisville.  Neal serves in numerous volunteer capacities in Louisville and Leland. When not in Leland, Neal returns to Louisville for a few winter months. Having grown up in Louisville,  Neal has been coming to Leland since he was born, and he became a Michigan resident in 2010.  Neal and his wife Lee have two daughters, Stewart Cory-Kline (Eric) and Preston, who are fourth generation Lelander’s; Granddaughter Cy is now the fifth. He graduated from Washington & Lee University and has worked in the investment management business his entire career for R. W. Baird (previously Hilliard Lyons).

Mary considers herself lucky to have grown up on a cherry farm in East Leland (Horn Road)! She graduated from Leland HS and the U of M School of Nursing, afterwards joining the Army Nurse Corp for a chance to see the world.  Later, her nursing career continued with a focus on mental health nursing.  She also holds an MBA from Berry College (Georgia).

After a fulfilling career in Nursing, Mary embarked upon a unique journey to the priesthood, attending Candler School of Divinity at Emory University (2004). Post seminary, she assisted at a start-up church. Upon ordination, she served as Associate Rector at St. Martin in the Fields (Atlanta) for six years, and then was the Rector at the Episcopal Church of the Ascension (Cartersville, GA), for ten years, retiring in 2021. 

Mary and her husband Steve have four children and seven grandchildren. Their home church is St. Catherine's Episcopal Church (Marietta, GA). They are especially grateful for their summertime parish family at St. Peter's Chapel.  

Lynne is a Eucharistic Minister and Facilitator of the Interpreters’ Table, and has been worshipping at St. Peter's since 2014.  Lynne was born in New York and grew up in Woodbridge, Connecticut. She has a BA in Political Science from George Washington University and spent fourteen years as an aide to U.S. Senator Howard Baker of Tennessee. Lynne and her husband Mark have a daughter, Molly.  Mark’s career with Citigroup took the family to Chicago, New York, and London. Since Mark's retirement, the Lyons live half the year in Leland and the other half in Williamsburg, Virginia, where they are members of Bruton Parish. 

Bill is a year ‘round resident of Leland and is a cradle Episcopalian; his Great-grandfather was the Dean at Christ Episcopal Church (Waukegan, IL). Bill served as an alter boy at St. David’s Episcopal Church (Berkley, MI) was active at St. Luke’s Episcopal (Kalamazoo, MI) and served on the Vestry and many committees at St. Matthew’s Episcopal Church (Evanston, IL). Bill is a passionate guitarist and vocalist and can be heard at many area venues, from Wineries to Breweries and Special Events.  He enjoys being the guitarist and song leader at the Saturday Celtic service.

Jackie spent most of her life in Annapolis, MD, and now lives in Charleston, SC.  She received her master’s degree from The Johns Hopkins University and was a professor at Anne Arundel Community College, mentoring study groups in STEM classes.   Jackie has two daughters:  Torri Tyler and Jackie Thomson (Neil), and two grandchildren, Davis and Torri Thomson.  The Tyler family have been spending their summers in Leland since the 1940’s.  Jackie enjoys being active at St. Peter’s Chapel, including serving as a Facilitator at the Interpreter’s Table.  

Greg is a Eucharistic Minister and was previously the Treasurer of St. Peter’s Chapel from 2021 -2024.  He and his wife Susan also are members of St. Barnabas in Montgomery, Ohio, where he serves as a Eucharistic Minister. Greg spent 30 years in consulting leadership positions at Deloitte Consulting and several other firms, working in healthcare.  He retired in 2017. Greg and Susan raised triplets - two daughters (Alyson & Elizabeth) and a son (Greg).  They have owned a house in Leland since 1993.  Susan’s family is originally from Traverse City.  Her parents, Tom and Alyce Hoban were long-time members of St. Peter’s Chapel.

Grand Traverse Pipes & Drums was founded in 1974 to preserve and promote Scottish Gaelic arts and traditions. Continuing a musical tradition from a time out of memory, the band performs the great marches of the British Army, haunting Gaelic airs, and the beloved Scottish dances; strathspeys, reels, hornpipes, and jigs. The haunting sound of the pipes, the crisp thunder of the drums, and the flash of the kilts are an unmistakable delight to the eyes as well as the ears. The group performs and competes in the Midwest and Canada. The band tartan is Ancient Sutherland.

St. Peter’s Chapel Eucharistic Ministers:

Nina Claytor, Alex Curchin, Lynne Lyons, Leslie Maclin, Phil Scherer, Greg Workman