Our Rector

The Rev. Hannah Wilder serves as rector of St. Paul’s Episcopal Church in Sparks, Nevada. Before coming to St. Paul’s, she served as vicar of St. Mary’s-in-the-Valley in Ramona, California, where she led a ministry focused on deep community engagement, creative and reverent worship, and the formation of a town-wide youth ministry developed in partnership with other local churches.

Hannah brings a distinctive combination of communications expertise, warmth, creativity, and bold servant leadership to parish ministry. Her work is grounded in a deep love for the Episcopal Church and its ancient traditions, along with a passion for following Jesus through joyful worship, pastoral care, and a strong commitment to social justice and community life.

She is particularly drawn to the mystical path of Christian spirituality and to practices that shape the rhythms of daily life, including praying the Daily Office from the Book of Common Prayer and observing the seasons of the church year. She is passionate about building communities where curiosity, compassion, and faith can flourish together.

Before entering parish ministry, Hannah served for more than thirteen years as communications officer for the Episcopal Diocese of San Diego, where she helped tell the stories of congregations and ministries throughout the diocese. She completed the San Diego Episcopal theological formation program in 2019 and remains deeply connected to the wider Episcopal Church.

Hannah’s wife, Dr. Kathy Wilder, served for eight years as executive director of Camp Stevens and earned her doctorate in organizational leadership in 2024. They have one son, Owen, a structural engineer who lives in Santa Rosa. Their family also includes two dogs, Coco and Bear, and a cat named Arya. Together they enjoy time outdoors, reading, good conversation, shared laughter, and the gift of deep friendships.