Our Team

Josh Lake - Pastor

Josh and Bethany moved to the Golden Isles with their children in 2022 to help plant St Simons Anglican Church, where he serves as Rector (Anglican for Senior Pastor). Josh is blessed to have been born into a Christian home with parents who ensured the church was a priority. He and Bethany are passionate about missions and discipleship and are deeply convinced that the Gospel is the only hope for those who are lost and perishing around the world and in our neighborhoods.

A child of the Southern Baptist Convention, Josh learned from them a deep reverence for Scripture and its place of primacy in the life of the church and the believer. Those formative years in Sunday school, VBS, congregational Worship, time at the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, and opportunities to pastor in different SBC contexts have left an indelible imprint on his life and ministry.

After seventeen years of pastoral ministry at SBC churches, Josh, Bethany, and their four children found their way “home” to the Anglican tradition.

Josh would love to grab coffee with you to hear your unique story. He is convinced St Simons Anglican Church is uniquely situated and gifted to proclaim “the rumors of Grace, redemption, and God making all things new,” in the Golden Isles and beyond.

Give Josh a call or text at 843.816.9310

Email Josh at Josh@StSimonsAnglican.com

Soli Deo Gloria!

Phil Ashey - Pastor

Hi, my name is Phil Ashey and I am the Rector Emeritus (founding Pastor) of St Simons Anglican Church.  I am married to an incredible woman of God, Julie, since 1981 and we have four grown children—Carol, Jake (married to Emily), Kirsten, and Meghann.  In June 2021 we moved here to St Simon’s in response to God’s call to plant a new church that will preach the Bible in all its fullness, to help people live their lives as Jesus would, and to provide the means of grace to follow Jesus from the heart in “the Anglican way”.

Julie and I attended Stanford University in Palo Alto, CA where she received her B.A. in Psychology and I received my B.A. in Political Theory.  She went on to receive her M.A. in Marriage and Family Ministry at Fuller Seminary, Pasadena CA.  She now works in Special Education at Brunswick HS. 

I went on to law school and a career as a prosecutor, then received my M.Div. from General Seminary in NYC, and a post-graduate LL.M in Canon Law (the law of the Church) at Cardiff University in Wales, UK.  Since 2008 I’ve also been leading a mission society called the American Anglican Council (www.americananglican.org ) devoted to raising up biblically faithful, resilient and missional leaders at every level of the Church, both here in N America and across the world.

My hobbies of choice are walking on the beach, photography and reading.  But my greatest joy and passion is helping people experience fullness of life in Jesus Christ-- learning how to live our lives as Jesus would from the inside (heart) outwards, and responding to his calling and purpose for our lives.  There is nothing more sacred and exciting than that!

Feel free to email me at pashey@americananglican.org ! Look forward to talking with you.

Kay Candler - Communications Lead

Jack and I relocated to St. Simons in May 2021 after spending 30 years of marriage in Atlanta. While Jack is a native Atlantan, I was born and raised in LaGrange, GA. My family began traveling to St. Simons in 1970 after buying a new condominium at Sea Palms. St. Simons had been our second home since we married. It became increasingly apparent that it should and would become our primary home! Leaving our beloved Christ Church (ACNA) in Atlanta was tough for us. However, almost simultaneous to our announced move, we learned that Rev. Phil Ashey (who also attended Christ Church) would be starting an Anglican Mission Church on St. Simons! We have been thrilled to unite with Phil and fellow followers of Christ on the Island! While Jack is retired, I am a sales associate with Portraits, Inc. representing today’s foremost portrait artists. We have one son, Jake, who resides in Atlanta but visits as often as he can. Jack has two daughters, Laura Linen (Anglican in Greenville, SC) and Dottie Baugher (Atlanta) and five fantastic grandchildren.