Fr. Court was called to St. Giles as their sixth Rector on March 1, 2021.
Fr. Court is originally from the Pacific Northwest. He was born in Bellingham, Washington and grew up in Salem, Oregon. After graduating high school, Fr. Court served four years in the United States Air Force, stationed at Chanute AFB in Rantoul, IL. During his time at Chanute, Fr. Court met his wife, Julie. Shortly after they were married, they moved to the Chicago area. Fr. Court and Julie have two children, Maggie and Joe. Court and Julie are now enjoying learning how to be “empty-nesters.”
Fr. Court got his undergraduate degree from Northwestern University, majoring in English and Writing. He received his Master of Divinity degree from Seabury-Western Theological Seminary. He was ordained a priest on December 6, 2008 at St. James Cathedral in Chicago. He has served as Associate Rector for Youth and Family Ministry at St. James the Less in Northfield, IL, Rector at St. Thomas Episcopal Church in Eugene, Or, and Rector at Trinity Episcopal Church in Highland Park, IL, prior to coming to St. Giles.
Fr. Court enjoys time in nature, especially hiking the forest preserves of northern Illinois and spending time in his native Pacific Northwest. Some of his hobbies include biking, reading, and writing poetry, drama, and short stories.
Cathy started at St. Giles in early 2013. She is a cradle Episcopalian and grew up in Deerfield. She lives in the northwest suburbs with her husband, Mark, and they have two adult children. Cathy is currently a member of St. Simon’s Episcopal Church in Arlington Heights.
Jim Brown deeply enjoys his ministry at St. Giles, a church with a long tradition of musical and liturgical richness. Enabling appropriate music for the congregation and choir each week is both humbling and moving. Jim has served the parish as Director of Music and Organist since 1985.
A graduate of Oberlin and New England Conservatory, he has performed in major venues such as National Cathedral and Harvard University, and in August 2010 he served as organist for a week at Canterbury Cathedral with the Northern Illinois University Chamber Choir.
Jim recently retired after fifteen years at Northern Illinois University where he taught organ and harpsichord and served as Coordinator of Graduate Studies and Undergraduate Advising. He also worked for the Music Institute of Chicago for many years, as an administrator and teacher of organ and harpsichord.
