Father Derek Harbin moved to Portsmouth in January of 2011 and serves as the 16th Rector of St. John's Church. He earned a Bachelor of Science degree from Davidson College, a Master of Divinity degree, cum laude, from Nashotah House Theological Seminary and a Doctor of Ministry degree in Congregational Development from Seabury-Western Theological Seminary. He brings expertise in the field of congregational development, particularly in the area of connecting the riches of our tradition with the culture. In addition to his work as an adjunct faculty member at Seabury-Western and Bexley-Seabury Seminaries, he has provided productive and fruitful leadership to congregations of multiple sizes as well as led a church plant through two size transitions. His spiritual passions and gifts lie in the areas of inspiring people towards a vision, teaching, preaching, liturgy, administration and care for ordained and lay ministry leaders. In addition to his duties as rector, he served for eight years as the chair of the Diocesan Liturgical Commission, chaired the Consecration Planning Team, served as Master of Ceremonies for the Consecration of Bishop Haynes, and served on Diocesan Executive Board under Bishops Hollerith and Magness. He and his wife Clifford (an old family name) celebrated their 30th wedding anniversary in September 2019. They have three adult children: Miles (who graduated from Radford University and works in Williamsburg), Mitchell (who graduated from Davidson College and works in Atlanta), and Clare (who began her studies at Davidson College in the fall of 2019).

What is a hobby you enjoy that may surprise other people? I have served as a certified Aquatic Instructor for the Boy Scouts of America for since 1980. Clifford and I enjoy collecting first edition children's books and attending Scottish festivals decked out in our Celtic attire, gardening, visiting historical sites, exercising with a trainer, and volunteering with local, civic, historical, musical, and arts festivals/events.

How many different countries have you visited? Six: Canada, England, Scotland, France, Italy (& Vatican City), & Israel (& Palestine).

How many different states have you lived in? Four: North Carolina, Wisconsin, Indiana & Virginia

What is your favorite line from a movie? Luke Skywalker, "I don't believe it." Yoda, "That is why you fail."

How many of your close relatives have served in the military or uniformed service? My father is a retired cold war Air Force officer and his father served in the Navy during WWII. My father-in-law served in the Army.

The mission of St. John's Church is important. What is the most challenging aspect of carrying out the mission? Helping people remember that church is really not about us. Jesus moved into the neighborhood and so should we.

Tell us about one or moments of overwhelming significance to you. Being part of a church planting team with Clifford aimed at reaching those who had no church home or who had been "burned" by the traditional expression of church. Through God's grace, we were blessed to see Church of the Beloved grow from 4 to 300 as lives were transformed. It was a magical time and a small taste of heaven on earth.

A soloist since the age of three, Taraleigh Casteen began playing the piano at six, wrote her first song at fourteen, and began touring professionally at seventeen. She has been privileged to create opening act bands for large tours as well as sing all over the world and with some of the world's most talented musicians. Though she has been a professional singer and bandleader for many years, she considers being a private vocal coach her greatest accomplishment. Since 2007, she has professionally instructed students in the art of entertaining by coaching them on how to properly sing, develop their breath control, outline and write original music, interact with the audience, play and read the basics of the piano, and the art of music arrangement. Some of her students have opened for such acts as Darius Rucker, Miranda Lambert, Little Big Town, Sara Evans, Gary Allen, and the Beach Boys—just to name a few!

What is a hobby you enjoy that may surprise other people? I love cooking and collecting old movies from the classic Hollywood days.

What is your favorite line from a movie? From Arsenic and Old Lace: "Insanity runs in my family. It practically gallops!"

In 2018 Clifford reached the forty-year career mark as a lay professional in the service of the Church. She has earned a BA in religion from Furman University in South Carolina and a Master of Arts in Ministry from Nashotah House (Episcopal) Theological Seminary in Wisconsin. Clifford is a nationally recognized leader in the Catechumenal Process (called Pilgrims in Christ at St. John's) and is a certified formation leader (trainer) for two levels of the Catechesis of the Good Shepherd. Her most recent position, before coming to St. John's, was as an employee of the Episcopal Diocese of North Carolina where for nine years she was a Church Planting Pastor where she worked as part of a collaborative leadership team that planted a new congregation in Charlotte.

For over three decades Claudia served as this parish's organist and choir director (February 1971 - February 2005). In honor of her distinguished service to St. John's Church, she was named organist emerita by the rector on February 1, 2015.