Rector

Rev. Bruce Gowe

Rev. Bruce E. Gowe was called to be the priest of St. Matthew’s Episcopal Church on March 21st, 2025.

Fr. Bruce is a native of Northeastern Pennsylvania. He did his undergraduate work at Tompkins Cortland Community College and Marywood University, graduating with a B.A. degree in Religious Studies and a minor in Philosophy. Fr. Bruce graduated in 2017 with a Master of Divinity degree from Wesley Theological Seminary. He served as a licensed local pastor in the United Methodist Church from 2013 to 2019, before The Episcopal Church’s rich liturgical tradition and advocacy for social justice called him home to Anglicanism. Fr. Bruce served as a deacon in The Episcopal churches of Schuylkill County, until his priesting and calling to Christ Episcopal Church in Stroudsburg from 2022 to 2025.

Fr. Bruce is passionate about engaging with the community around the church, collaborates with the laity to do outreach and mission, celebrates beautiful liturgies, enjoys singing with the choir when he can, and preaches thoughtful and relevant homilies. He is 35 years old, and he was formed in the faith by his grandparents and a number of beloved mentors. He enjoys traveling with friends and family, seeing new releases at the movie theater, and dining at locally-owned restaurants in his spare time. Fr. Bruce is married to his husband, James, they have one fur-child, and they will be relocating to the Syracuse area.

Fr. Bruce’s first service at St. Matthew’s will be June 8, 2025.