The Reverend Ricardo Bailey was born in Atlanta, GA and attended Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church and School as well as Saint Thomas More Catholic School. He graduated from Shamrock High School in DeKalb County, GA and attended Xavier University of Louisiana in New Orleans. After graduating with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Sociology and with honors from Xavier in 1997, Father Bailey was sent to Saint Mary’s Seminary & University in Baltimore, MD in 1998 for graduate studies in Theology. He graduated from Saint Mary’s in 2003 and was ordained to the Priesthood for the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Atlanta (he was ordained a Deacon on December 22, 2001) on June 7, 2003.
After serving Parishes and a High School as Chaplain in the Archdiocese, Father Bailey discerned that he wanted to explore priestly ministry as a married man and so, Father Bailey left the Roman Catholic Church and the Roman Catholic Priesthood in 2011. Later that year he was received as an Episcopalian and was married to his high school sweetheart, Mrs. Marica Bailey. Father Bailey and his Wife, Marica, have 4 children (3 Daughters: Alexus – who lives in Atlanta, Makiya – who is a student at Savannah State University, Zahria – who is a Senior in High School & one Son – Ricari who is a soon-to-be- in the 3rd Grade.)
Father Bailey was received as an Episcopal Priest for service in the Episcopal Diocese of Atlanta on November 7, 2013 and from there he served as a Priest-Associate at the Cathedral of Saint Philip in Atlanta; he also served as Vicar of the Emmaus House Chapel in Atlanta; he also served as Head Chaplain of Holy Innocents’ Episcopal School in Atlanta and while Chaplain of Holy Innocents’ School, he was called to serve as Priest-in-Charge of Saint Timothy’s Episcopal Church in Decatur, GA. Father Bailey was called to serve as a Chaplain to the House of Bishops of the Episcopal Church by the Office of the Presiding Bishop and he has been serving in that capacity since 2018. In January of 2023, the Vestry of The Historic Calvary Episcopal Church and the Right Reverend Ruth Woodliff-Stanley, Bishop of South Carolina, called Father Bailey as the 7th Rector of The Historic Calvary Episcopal Church in Charleston, SC.
Clergy and Staff
The Rev. Marionette Bennett - Deacon- is a Charleston native who lived for many years in Colorado. She was ordained to the permanent diaconate in 1996 in Denver, Colorado and served at St. Stephen’s in Aurora, CO. As a deacon, she worked with Hospice, at a battered women’s shelter and as a relief counselor at that shelter. She also worked closely with St. Stephen’s free children’s summer program. In 2020, she returned to Charleston and, in 2021, was licensed to serve as a deacon in the Diocese of SC and at Calvary, her original Church home. She was made Canonically Resident in the Diocese of SC in 2021. Before retirement, Deacon Bennett worked as a Cytotechnologist studying and detecting cellular abnormalities and cancer cells for 23 years and for the US postal Service in distribution for 17 years. She is a dedicated aunt and great aunt to her nephews and nieces. Her vision and hope is to continue serving as the heart and hands of Christ to all she meets and to show God’s love in word and deed.
Sydria Singleton -Organist- (also known as Syderia) has been associated with Calvary since 1991. She served as the Church Secretary from 1991-2014, has been the Church organist on and off since 1995, and our regular organist since 2016. She has taught private piano, organ and voice for thirty-six years, lives in Goose Creek, and has three adult children. She studied Classical Piano under Duo-Pianist Delphin and Romain at the College of Charleston. Syderia works full time as a secretary at James Island Charter High School. She is also a cancer survivor and is, officially, remarkable.
