Worship. Serve. Grow.

The Rev. Tony Wike

Tony grew up in Lexington and graduated from Guilford College. She went to law school at UNC after spending time with VISTA in eastern North Carolina.

“In VISTA, I felt ill-equipped to make a difference, to bring about change. The people I was working with were often powerless to deal with their problems and improve their circumstances. I realized I couldn’t do much about that with my limited qualifications, so I went to law school.”

She now works as an attorney for the agency that represents the public before the Utilities Commission.

Tony had reengaged with church after moving to Raleigh to practice law and eventually decided to attend Duke Divinity School. Following graduation from Duke, she entered the ordination process under Bishop Robert Estill, who encouraged her to pursue an Anglican year at Virginia Theological Seminary.

She came to St. Paul’s as a deacon and was ordained to the priesthood in what is now the Chapel. Tony was the second women ordained to the diaconate and to the priesthood in the Diocese of North Carolina.

“St. Paul’s is an incredibly gifted parish. The richness never ceases to amaze me. It has also become a more and more open and inclusive parish which is one of the things I appreciate most.”

Five Fast Facts:

Mountains or beach – Mountains

Duke, State or UNC – State. “My professional degrees are from UNC and Duke, so I resolve the conflict by pulling for State, my brother Ed’s alma mater.”

Final meal would be – A salad from The Irregardless Café; a deep dish pizza with anchovies, artichoke hearts, black olives, Portobello mushrooms, and sun-dried tomatoes; and key lime pie. Maybe with a bottle of Trappist ale.

Favorite hymn and non-hymn – “All Creatures of Our God and King” and anything by Peter Ostroushko

Something folks at St. Paul’s would be surprised to learn – “I cannot think of anything that folks at St. Paul’s would be surprised to know about me. They may not know a lot of facts about me, but I think they know me well enough not to be surprised by much of anything