Clergy & Staff
Fr. Chase was born in Sewanee, TN, and lived in several other places before settling in Columbia, SC (which he claims as home). He and his wife Jessica are high school sweethearts and parents to Mary Andrew and Huck. After they married, the Edgars lived in Greenville, SC and fell in love with the Upstate. Upon Jessica’s completion of medical school, the Lord took the Edgars to Birmingham, AL where Jessica completed her residency and Chase completed his seminary degree.
The Edgars moved back to the Upstate in July of 2022 to help lead the Diocese of the Carolinas' church planting effort in Anderson. Prior to serving in Anderson, Chase served as the Director of Student Ministries at Church of the Apostles (Columbia, SC), St. Paul’s (Greenville, SC), and Christ the King (Birmingham, AL). He studied Journalism at the University of South Carolina, and Theology at Beeson Divinity School.
Chase’s hope is that Church of the Ascension would be a place marked first and foremost by a commitment to sharing the consolations of God’s grace with sinners, through His Word and Sacrament.
Vicar (Church Planter)
The Rev’d Chase Edgar
The Rev’d Dr. Mark Graham
Assisting Priest
Fr. Mark and his wife, Rena, retired to Clemson in 2022 after living Roanoke, VA for 35 years where Mark served a Lutheran congregation for 35 years and Rena worked as a CPA. Prior to their time in Roanoke, Mark was a pastor in Luray, VA for five years. Mark received a BA in Greek from the College of William & Mary; a Master of Divinity degree from the Lutheran Theological Southern Seminary; and, a Doctor of Ministry degree from Columbia Theological Seminary. God has blessed Mark and Rena with two daughters, Emily and Kate, their husbands, and five grandchildren. (Both of their families live in the greater Atlanta area.)
Over the years a number of Anglican priests served as associates on Mark’s staff in Roanoke, and his congregation adopted the 2019 Book of Common Prayer for their Sunday liturgy. So walking into Church of the Ascension was like coming home for them! Mark’s Lutheran ordination was recently ‘regularized’ in the Anglican Church, allowing him to serve at Ascension.
Mark prays that Church of the Ascension would always be a church that holds to the authority of the Scriptures, through which the Holy Spirit inspires many to abide in Christ in worship, in mission, and in the pursuit of a holy life for the glory of God.
The Rev’d Tyler VanFossen
Dcn. Tyler relocated to Anderson from Upstate New York in 2021 along with his wife, Ashley, and four children – Evelyn, Piper, Hudson, and Rowan. He and Ashley met while working at a Christian camp for adults with special needs, where Tyler then worked full-time as the Program Manager for the next four years. He then took a position at Church of the Good Shepherd in Binghamton, NY where he completed four years of rigorous study and ministry training, resulting in his ordination to the diaconate through the Diocese of the Living Word (where he remains canonically resident).
Tyler teaches Humanities and Bible at New Covenant Classical School. He has earned an undergraduate degree in Religion and Biblical Studies and a graduate certificate in Classical Christian Studies.
Tyler’s hope is that Church of the Ascension might be a faithful church where pilgrims can find rest and assurance through Word and Sacrament, and thus be compelled to press on together until we reach the City of God where we will see our Lord face to face.
Deacon
Diana and her husband Tony moved to the Upstate in 2023 and began worshipping at Church of the Ascension. Before moving to South Carolina, Diana spent 27 years working in public education. She received a BA in English Literature from Marquette University; an Elementary Education Certificate from Wisconsin Lutheran College; and an MA in Teaching and Leadership from St. Xavier University.
Diana enjoys being able to use her various gifts and experience to serve the administrative needs of the Church, as well as our children and their families. She believes that children are not simply the church of the future, but that they are essential to the life of the church today.
Diana’s hope for Church of the Ascension is that we would always heed Jesus’ words, “Let the little children come to me and do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of heaven.” (Matt 19.14)
Parish Administrator & Children’s Ministry Coordinator