Reverend Sara H. Irwin

 Rev Sara H Irwin was called as the 17th Rector of St Andrew's in July 2024 and celebrated her first service on Sept 8th. She joined us from St John Carnegie (ELCA) where she was the pastor for the last 6 years; prior to that she was rector at Christ Episcopal Church, Waltham, MA, for 11 years. 

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Rev Sara’s ministry as a priest flows from forging strong relationships in the congregation and wider community, and the passionate welcome and love of God for every person, regardless of circumstance or identity. Sara is especially excited about St Andrew’s desire to connect more deeply to all God’s children (where all means all) and to foster parish growth and diversity and connection to its neighbors.

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An active & creative writer, her work has been published in a variety of contexts.

She has written for many Church publications, including Sermons that Work (2026), Christian Associates of Western PA’s We Believe devotional book on Nicaea (2026),  Forward Movement’s Advent with the O Antiphons (2018), and the Grow Christians Blog (2019-2026).   Her 2012 sabbatical poetry was published in the chapbook Ashes: What Remains (BackPages Books, Waltham, MA) and she wrote the title essay in My Red Couch & Other Stories on Seeking a Feminist Faith (2005, Bischoff & Gaffron), “The Priest I want to be” in There’s a Woman in the Pulpit (2015, Spong, ed).  Look for her in the Forward Movement's Day by Day meditations in June of 2027,

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In the Episcopal Diocese of Pittsburgh, she serves as the President of the Standing Committee and, previously, as member of the Commission on Ministry (2020-2025),  Calvary Camp Board (2018-2024), and the Clergy Association Board (2018-2023).

Originally from Erie, PA; she completed her undergraduate degree at New College (BA, Religion & Gender Studies) and seminary at General Theological Seminary (MDiv, cum laude). She expects to finish her Doctor of Ministry (public theology & creative writing) at Pittsburgh Theological Seminary in May of 2027. 

Sara is a mother of two teenagers (Adah, a junior in high school, and Isaiah, a sophomore at Denison University) and is married to the Rev. Noah Evans, rector of St Paul's Episcopal Church in Mt. Lebanon.  She love  tattoos, contemplative prayer, and anything that gets her outside.