OK, out of all fairness and in full transparency, Rev. Roy resides in Beaufort, outside of the "Greater Metro Port Royal Area," but we've promised not to hold that against him. Port Royalians feel his presence on a daily basis and there is no doubt he contributes to the coolness of our coastal town. So there - it's out front - he's only half local!
For those of you who already know Roy, you can agree, there is a feeling of instant comfort when Roy greets you. Perhaps it is his jolly laugh, his quick sense of humor, or simply how his kind smile is able to put you right at ease, Rev. Roy is interwoven into Port Royal's fabric such that you might think he'd always been here.
That may be one of the greatest aspects of Port Royal - it has a way of attracting far from ordinary people (like you)!
So, let's dive in! A bit of background to this special "local."
Roy Tripp has been called many names - Reverend, Rector, Father, or simply Roy. He gingerly asks you to call him whatever you're most comfortable with. You'll typically spot him around town with his clerical collar as he is the rector at St. Mark's Episcopal Church off of Paris. He is going on his seventh year at St. Mark's and plans to retire here.
From a background in marketing, sales, and public relations, Rev. Roy brings a wealth of people skills to his church. During his 20's the then-agnostic began to explore faith again, including the historical Jesus and other social leaders such as Gandhi and MLK. Over time, he was drawn to the Episcopal liturgy, its historical tradition and its welcoming nature.
He completed seminary out in California and spent time in Seattle for University, where he met his wife, Liz, and had his son, Preston. Coming to us from a parish in Duxbury, Massachusetts, Roy has devoted +20 years to Episcopalian ministry. You can find out a bit more about his background here.
So, how was Port Royal able to attract such a friendly face?
It all started with a job hunt after he had fulfilled his 10 years of service to St. John the Evangelist Episcopal Church. A friend suggested St. Mark's to him, and, to be honest, Rev. Roy had somewhat written the opportunity off. Thankfully, his persistent friend pushed him to explore the first full-time position as a rector at St. Mark's. What sealed the deal for Roy to pursue the opportunity was the church's website, where the church declared themselves to be "Enthusiastically Episcopalian."
Since his arrival to Port Royal in 2017, Rev. Roy took up the task of remodeling the historic site of St. Mark's. In 2018, St. Mark's was purchased from the town of Port Royal, and in 2019, restorations began and carried on through Covid. The renovations allowed for the sanctuary to be moved back and additional pews installed. Which, they would need! St. Mark's congregation continues to grow and serves as a space for the town of Port Royal to gather for various social and community events.
This brings us to why Mr. Roy has become such an intricate part of our small town. The vision of St. Mark's is to have open doors to the community and has helped shape the extraordinary people of Port Royal.
So, the mingling of Rev. Roy and Port Royal?
Roy describes Port Royal's "diversity of opinions and the richness of backgrounds and talents," as part of the uniqueness of the Lowcountry.
Perhaps, if nothing else is gained from our experiences during Covid, is the understanding and recognizing of our innate need to have community. Roy explains that "community is fragile, but is so strengthening."
One of his favorite memories of Port Royal is the church's adaptation to holding church outside on their greens on Paris throughout Covid. People would bring lawn chairs and their own bread for communion. St Mark's was even able to hold an outside Christmas Eve service in 2020. Rev. Roy notes that Jesus "didn't come to create church." It is through this lens that Roy's vision for St. Mark's is to be more than just a church, but also a community venue takes focus.
This may be one of the things that light Roy up the most. To hear his plans and vision for St. Mark's is to understand that he sees the two as very closely connected and interwoven. The connection and care for the people of Port Royal led Roy to further develop this relationship between the town and its people.
With incredible acoustics, St. Mark's has served to host a number of events, including a wonderful, standing-room-only concert from Beaufort Chamber Musical Society last fall. He plans to host the concert again this fall and has a Summer Music Festival for the Summer of 2024 in the works. Additionally, St. Mark's is currently hosting Historic Port Royal Foundation's Dr. Larry Rolland's Lecture Series. (You don't want to miss these amazing lectures as they are Port Royal-specific!)
Rev. Roy points to Port Royal's growth in the last 6 years as more and more people discover the Lowcountry and are drawn to it as its "greatest challenge and greatest asset." How do we best manage the growth, because we're not able to really stop it? How do we allow growth to occur while keeping the quality of life?
When exploring these questions further, Roy points to some of the initiatives already in place such as Beaufort's Open Land Trust that "protects significant ecological and cultural places that define ... the extraordinary Lowcountry region" and Beaufort's Chamber's Beaufort Leadership Program & Senior Leadership Program that gives citizens an "opportunity to build connections to create change."
These initiatives and many more are looking to address the issues facing the Beaufort area, including but not limited to affordable housing, gaps in pay, and an aging demographic. Rev. Roy sees these challenges as an opportunity to strengthen that fragile network we call community.
"I hope [future generations] are as happy as I am here. The Lowcountry has a natural spirituality to it and I hope it remains alive and beautiful..." -Roy Tripp
St. Mark's as an intrical part of Port Royal's heartbeat
Opening up communication in the community is vital for both the flow of information and the fellowship among neighbors. Rev. Roy addresses this challenge by opening St. Mark's doors each Wednesday at 7:30 am for Coffee and Conversations, giving a place for the town's people to join in the conversations as to what is going on in our town (B.Y.O.Coffee).
Another opportunity to welcome conversation and perhaps one of the most exciting relaunches since Covid is Rev. Roy's, "God on Tap" on Thursdays at the Smokehouse on Paris from 6-8 pm. Here, there is no set agenda, just two rules. 1. One person speaks at a time, and 2. You may challenge an opinion, but not the person. Also, they have been known to have an occasional session of "Stump the Priest."
These and other opportunities for conversation reflect the value that Rev. Roy has for the members of the Port Royal community, seeking to unite and grow real relationships in our little part of the world. Rev. Roy has changed the trajectory of Port Royal's community, bringing the simplicity of fellowship to a complex world that craves community and a brighter future for Port Royal.
We hope you have enjoyed learning about Rev. Roy and that when the opportunity arises to experience his warmth and receive a blessing from him, you will!
You can check out St. Mark's calendar for a full schedule of events.
A few Port Royal facts about Roy:
Favorite place to eat? (In no particular order) Fishcamp, Madison's (see if you can spot this special local on Madison's website!), Shellring, and the variety of Food Trucks
Favorite spot? The Sands, walking along the Wetlands, enjoying the restaurants and of course, Corner Perk
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