Staff
Meet the Staff
The Rev. Doris Buchanan Johnson, Rector
The Rev. Doris Buchanan Johnson hails from Florida, loves the sun, the heat, the beach, and the water. That said, she is a graduate of Virginia Theological Seminary. Following seven years as the associate rector of St. John’s Episcopal Church, the largest church in the Diocese of Maryland where she focused on Christian Formation for all ages, Parish Life, and Lay Ministry Development, she accepted a call to become the fifth rector at St. Martin's.
Three and a half years into her ministry with St. Martin's, Doris continues to find the Holy Spirit in God's people gathered at St. Martin's, as we discover God's hopes & purposes for our congregation.
As both a lay person and a priest, Doris has always been involved with parish day schools. In fact her two grown children (Lindsey and Carter) graduated from their parish day school in Tampa, FL. She believes that “There is no better educational beginning for children than to participate in an institution which honors the mental, physical, social, and spiritual growth of children, through the efforts of caring, respectful teachers who provide opportunities for educational discoveries which enlighten and stretch the young mind.”
The Rev. Pierre-Henry Buisson
The Reverend Pierre-Henry Buisson was born in Rochefort, on the French Atlantic Coast. First of a sibling of six, he became aware very early that God was calling him. However he started his professional life by serving his country six years as Sergeant in the French Army before coming to understand and to accept God’s call.
After six years in the Roman Catholic Seminaries of Poitiers and Bordeaux, he was ordained a priest and served as curate, assistant and rector in rural parishes in the deanery of Jonzac, diocese of La Rochelle. At the same time Pierre-Henry, was in charge of the children and youth ministries. He organized summer camps in the Pyrénées Mountains for Middle School students and some pilgrimages for College students. He really enjoyed his ministry, but resigned his position after 6 years in order to marry Sophie.
Several years later he was received into the Episcopal Church after reading the French version of the Book of Common Prayer. As a worker at a local gas company, he served also as lay leader, then non-stipendiary priest-in-charge of “la Mission St. Martin,” a French Episcopal mission he planted with Sophie.
He came to the United States in July 2008 with his wife and his three children (Raphael, 12; Pauline, 10; Clement, 7) to study at Virginia Theological Seminary. Pierre-Henry accepted with joy the call to serve St Martin’s community as Assistant and Chaplain of the Day School after having graduated in May 2010 and earning a Master in Theological Studies.
Dr. James Walton, Music Director
James Walton holds the Doctor of Musical Arts in Organ Performance degree from the University of Cincinnati, College-Conservatory of Music, where he studied with Roberta Gary and held the graduate assistantship in Organ. He also held the graduate assistantship for accompanying in the Choral Department, and toured Portugal with the CCM Chamber Choir in the spring of 2004. He received Third Prize in the 2005 Strader Organ Playing Competition.
Dr. Walton holds a Bachelor of Music in Organ Performance from James Madison University where he studied with Richard McPherson, and a Master of Music in Organ Performance from The Catholic University of America where he studied with Peter Marshall. He has performed in Virginia, Maryland, Washington, D.C. and Ohio, at Washington National Cathedral, and for the Southside Chapter of the AGO in Petersburg, Virginia.
Dr. Walton has served churches in Richmond, Virginia, Bethesda, Maryland, Washington, D.C., Arlington, Virginia and Cincinnati, Ohio. He served as Resident Organist at Hyde Park Community United Methodist Church in Cincinnati, Ohio from October, 2005 until May of 2009. He was the Artistic Director of the choral society Jubilant Singers, and held an appointment to the adjunct faculty of the College-Conservatory of Music, University of Cincinnati.
Jessie Syms, Parish Administrator
Jessie Syms, our Parish Administrator, has been on staff since 2003, bringing both administrative and management experience to our parish. She keeps our church office running with smooth efficiency and is also responsible for managing our busy and complex church calendar. She is a recent graduate of the four-year EFM program and enjoys leading worship with music and praise, and teaching Bible studies and small groups. She is currently a licensed minister and seminarian on the road to ordination in the Church of the Brethren.
Doug Blake, Facilities Manager
Doug previously worked at St. Andrew’s United Methodist Church for 13 years. Doug is a native of Maryland and lives in Annapolis. He is the 13th of 14 children, and he has 5 children & 11 grandchildren. He attends the First Baptist Church of Annapolis. He serves as vice-commander of the American Legion, post 141 in Annapolis as well as being a master mason with Masonic Lodge #14 in Annapolis.
