The Rev. Christian Paul Basel was called to be the twelfth Rector of St. Mark’s in the Spring of 2024. Previously, he served as Curate at Saint Michael and All Angels Episcopal Church in Dallas, Texas; as a Seminarian at St. Columba’s Episcopal Church in Washington, D.C.; and as Director of Youth and Assistant for Communications at Grace Church Cathedral in Charleston, South Carolina.

Christian grew up in a miliary family and was born in Aberdeen, Scotland. He spent much of his childhood and teenage years at the US Naval Station at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, as well as living in Georgia, North Carolina, and Massachusetts. His brother and sister and their families, as well as his father, reside in Atlanta, Savannah, and Forsyth, Georgia.

Christian completed undergraduate studies in history at Hampden-Sydney College in Virginia and earned an MA in Latin American & Caribbean History from the Citadel Graduate College in Charleston, as well as an MA in Middle Grades Teaching from the College of Charleston and MDiv with honors from the Virginia Theological Seminary in Alexandria, Virginia.

Prior to his call to ministry, he served in a different capacity for several years as a Trooper with the South Carolina Highway Patrol.

In ministry, Christian is most active in Christian Formation and Education and enjoys leading classes that explore faith and scripture through different lenses and historical approaches. His passions extend beyond church to travelling abroad, making road-trips throughout the US, visiting historical sites, art, classical piano, State and National Parks, and spending time with his nephew and niece.