Rev. Charles F. Sutton

Charles F. Sutton, Jr., died peacefully at home while surrounded by loved ones, Saturday, July 19, 2025, after a 20-month battle with cancer. He leaves his devoted wife of 50 years, Mary Meade Sutton; a son Andrew D. Sutton and his wife Julie M., of Maynard; a daughter Elizabeth A. Rust and her husband Allen C., of Rome, PA; eight grandchildren: Fiona, Lorelai, and Oliver Sutton; Rachel, Anastasia, Charles, Charlotte, and Hiram Rust; and three sisters: Carol Ann Witkos and her husband Frederick, of Newton, NH; Mary Catherine Croft and her husband Jack, of Landsdale, PA; and Mina Melinda Adamovage and her husband Martin, of Nebo, NC. He was predeceased by his sister Linda Beth Sutton, and two brothers Paul Timothy and William Hilburt Sutton and his parents Charles F. Sutton, Sr., and Mary (Shaver) Sutton.
Charlie's childhood was as an itinerant since his father was in the Air Force. Here's the list of locations: Georgia, Texas, South Carolina, Pennsylvania, New York, Mississippi, California, and Delaware where he graduated from Mount Pleasant Senior High School. After high school he went to the University of Virginia, Charlottesville, earning a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology (1969). He intended to pursue a master's degree in psychology, but experimental psychology was not a good fit. The real life-shaping experience of Charlie's time at UVA was his involvement with InterVarsity Christian Fellowship. The IV chapter at UVA held regular chapter meetings and a daily prayer meeting that he participated in. He also took advantage of various retreats and seminars for training in Bible study and leading small groups. Little did he know that this was the foundation for his life's calling to be a pastor!!
Charlie worked for the Virginia State Health Department, and he volunteered supporting the InterVarsity chapter Harrisonburg, where he found his real passion, digging into the Bible and helping others learn how to read and study the Bible for themselves. So, in January 1974 Charlie began his studies at Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary in South Hamilton, MA. He earned a Master's in Theological Studies. In the fall of 1974, Mary (Meade) began her studies at the seminary; they were engaged at the end of December and married on August 23, 1975!
As God would have it, both Charlie and Mary (but separately) were exploring the Episcopal Church. After Charlie graduated from seminary, he worked on staff with InterVaristy, but them he began thinking he should continue his studies to be an Episcopal presbyter (aka priest-it's an Anglo-Saxon thing), so they moved down to Alexandria, Virginia, where Charlie got his Master of Divinity at Virginia Theological Seminary (1982). In December of that year Charlie was ordained a deacon in the Episcopal Church, while he served as an assistant to the rector of Zion Episcopal Church in Rome, NY. From Rome, he went to Epiphany Episcopal Church in Eutawville, SC, then to St. Luke's Episcopal Church in Gladstone, NH. Finally, he was called to be the rector of Trinity Episcopal Church where he served from January 1991 to September 2009, when he both retired and joined the Anglican Church in North America. In his retirement he studied to become a Spiritual Director and then met with about 6 directees, he facilitated a bi-weekly pastors' prayer group called John 17:23, led Bible studies for Redeemer Anglican Church in Franklin, and served a supply and interim pastor, as needed.
In his daily life, Charlie derived enjoyment from spending time with people, from time in prayer and discussion with his wife, to taking quality time with his parishioners, as well as being with his grandchildren for visits. A memento he leaves behind is a special name or two for each of his close family members, such as his son's nickname of "Tiger" and his daughter's nickname of "Lizabunny", as well as special names for each of his grandchildren. Throughout the years, his cars also found themselves with names, the most current one being Glynnis the Golf, which is a Volkswagen, is preferred choice of vehicle. For several years he was also the satisfied owner of Molly, a sailboat that he enjoyed toting over to Cape Cod each summer during his family's annual tent camping expedition. Between camping trips, the year would be scattered with daily walks with Mary, as well as times of exploring in the woods when they would get a good chance to talk of "ships and shoes and sealing wax, of cabbages and kings."
Charlie was a man who loved words-from the archaic and nearly extinct to those of everyday jargon, writing words himself, or reading the words of others, for he was a vast and expansive reader, as anyone who has seen his study with its bulging bookshelves could attest to. And yet, for a man who loved words, he was more often quiet than the center of the conversation. He knew that life and death were in the power of the tongue, and he sought to follow the example of His Savior by using his words to edify, encourage and comfort. Countless hours were spent in conversing with God, offering up thanksgivings as well as making petitions for those he loved.
While he appreciated things such as airplanes and Volkswagens, books and photography, above those things was his adoration of God and his desire to be conformed into the image of Christ. Charlie loved well, he cultivated joy routinely, he sought to be at peace with all men and his God, he exercised patience, exhibited both kindness and goodness, lived faithfully, knew how to have self-control and was gentle in both his words and actions. He acted justly, loved mercy and walked humbly with his God. "Now may our Lord Jesus Christ Himself, and God our Father, who loved us and gave us eternal comfort and good hope through grace, comfort your hearts and establish them in every good work and word." (2 Thessalonians 23:16-17)
Calling Hours from 3-5PM, will be Sunday July 27, 2025. The service of Christian Burial will be Monday, July 28, 2025, at 10AM in the Union Congregational Church, South Grafton, followed by internment in Riverdale Cemetery, Providence Road, Northbridge.
Contributions in Charlie's name (Charles F. Sutton, Jr.) can be made to the Scripture Union, USA Salt & Light Legacy Fund at scriptureunion.org/saltandlight/ or you can mail a check to Scripture Union, P.O. Box 215, Valley Forge, PA 19481, with "Charlie Sutton" on the memo line. In addition to Charlie helping to lead almost all the SuperKids and PrimeTime programs that Mary led, he used Encounter with God for over 50 years!!!
Donations could also be made to the Anglican Diocese of the Living Word, adlw.org or by mailing a check to 9116 Center Street, Suite 204, Manassas, VA 20110. Charlie found his true home in the ADLW, and their commitment to the Bible, Anglicanism, and spreading the good news of the gospel filled his heart with so much joy!
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