Welcome to St. Thomas à Becket Episcopal Church
Our parish is named for a 12th-century saint, the Archbishop of Canterbury who was killed for opposing royal authority over the church. We were founded on Thomas Becket’s feast day (December 29) in 1978.
Mission Statement
St. Thomas à Becket Episcopal Church celebrates Jesus Christ and welcomes everyone. We enjoy worship, music, formation, and fellowship that inspire faith and create opportunities to share and receive love within and beyond our parish. With God’s help, we strive to serve with boldness, shown mercy, and learn with humility.
Vision Statement
Just as I have loved you, you also should love one another. –John 13:34
We envision St. Thomas à Becket Episcopal Church as a people who joyfully express Christ’s transformative love for all, not only in our worship but through our devotion to each other and service in our community and beyond. We aspire to expand our presence as a welcoming, inclusive, and dynamic place of spiritual growth.
Clergy and Staff
The Reverend Michael L. Delk, Rector
A native Kentuckian, Fr. Michael took his Bachelor’s in Religion magna cum laude with departmental Honors from Transylvania University in Lexington, Kentucky, and his Master’s in Divinity degree with Honors from Virginia Theological Seminary in Alexandria, Virginia. During his time in seminary, Father Michael spent a semester abroad at Oxford University, and completed his Clinical Pastoral Education at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania in west Philadelphia.
Over the past 25 years, he has served as the Assistant to the Rector at The Episcopal Church of the Good Shepherd in Lexington, Kentucky; as Canon for Youth, Young Adults, and Communications at The Cathedral of St. Philip in Atlanta, Georgia; as Rector of Hickory Neck Episcopal Church in Toano, Virginia, and as Rector of St. Luke’s Episcopal Church, in Anchorage, Kentucky (east Louisville).
Father Michael has two adult children, Ben and Ed. In his spare time, he enjoys reading, movies, day hikes in the mountains, and playing video games with his sons. He began his tenure as Rector of St. Thomas à Becket on August 1, 2023.
The Reverend Karen Klein, Curate
The Rev. Karen E. Klein is a native of Huntington, WV. She holds bachelor’s and master’s degrees in journalism from Marshall University, a juris doctorate from Indiana University School of Law, and a master of divinity from Virginia Theological Seminary. After careers in newspapers and law, she discerned a call to ordained priesthood and enrolled at VTS in 2023. While there, she served as Student Body President. Mother Karen grew up at Trinity, Huntington, and she first became involved in the church at the diocesan level while a teen, as president of the Episcopal Young Churchmen, representing the youth as a voting member of Diocesan Council and Diocesan Convention. She has served the diocese since 2009 as chancellor and vice chancellor. Mother Karen has been a Peterkin camper and camp staff member since the early 1980s and considers Peterkin her spiritual home. She loves music, reading, and all things Disney. Mother Karen began as our part-time Curate in July 2026.
The Reverend Al Prichard, Deacon
Deacon Al was ordained as a vocational deacon in 2011 and assigned to St. Thomas à Becket by Bishop Mike Klusmeyer. Deacon Al has been a member of the parish since the early 1980s and was an active lay person prior to ordination. Graduating from Davis and Elkins College with a degree in History and Political Science, initially Al taught high school in rural Tucker County in West Virginia. Later he completed a degree in accounting from West Virginia University. He has also completed graduate coursework from Pittsburgh Theological Seminary and from West Virginia University. Al is retired from a 30-year career in public broadcasting, having served in various capacities, culminating with a position as Station Manager with the West Virginia Public Television station in Morgantown. Deacon Al’s ministry has focused on addressing the problems of the homeless and those with food insecurity. He has served on the boards of Bartlett Housing Solutions, Morgantown Community Kitchen, and Empty Bowls Monongalia. He has a gift for preaching and assists liturgically with worship at St. Thomas à Becket. He participates on the diocesan level as a member of the Commission on Ministry and with the West Virginia Iona School, the diocesan formation program. Recently, he chaired the Bishop Coadjutor Search and Nominating Committee. Deacon Al and his wife, Cheryl, have two children and enjoy their grandchildren greatly.
Zachary Allen, Music Director
In 2026 we welcomed Zachary Allen as our new Organist and Choir Director. A 2011 graduate of West Virginia Wesleyan College, Zachary comes to us with a varied and extensive background in sacred music. Most recently, he served five years as Organist and Director of Music at Christ Episcopal Church in Fairmont, following a five-year tenure as Organist and Assistant Director of Music at St. Timothy’s Episcopal Church in Centennial, Colorado. Zachary was also a member of the Colorado Episcopal Service Corps’ inaugural 2013 cohort.
Natalie Homer, Parish Administrator
Natalie joined St. Thomas à Becket in 2018. Originally from Idaho, she moved to West Virginia in 2015 to pursue a Master of Fine Arts Degree in Creative Writing at West Virginia University. In addition to St. Thomas, she works for West Virginia University Press, and is a published poet. Currently she works for the church remotely from Canton, Ohio.
Sarah Ransom, Administrative Assistant
In 2026 we welcomed Sarah Ransom as our new Administrative Assistant. She graduated from West Virginia University in 2024, and is back to get her masters in Professional Writing and Editing. From Charleston, West Virginia, she worked at the leasing office for University Apartments in Morgantown for one year and interned at the WV DHHR. She likes to write fantasy and fiction, and really likes cats.
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Nancy Mosser, Senior Warden
Bruce Shelton, Junior Warden
Beth Royall, Treasurer
Kevin Steurer, Vestry Secretary
The Reverend Michael Delk
The Reverend Karen Klein
The Reverend Al Prichard
Zachary Allen
Natalie Homer
Sarah Ransom