The Very Rev. Sam Candler

Sam Candler became Dean of the Cathedral of St. Philip in October 1998. He was raised on a farm in Coweta County, Georgia, and he received his B.A. degree, cum laude, from Occidental College, in Los Angeles, California. In 1982, he graduated magna cum laude from Yale University Divinity School (and Berkeley Divinity School at Yale, its Episcopal component). He was awarded an honorary Doctor of Divinity degree by the University of the South in 2021 for his “exemplary willingness to take on the hard soul work of Christian responsibility and carry on that work faithfully and lovingly,” particularly in his lifelong devotion to faithful parish ministry. His vision for St. Philip's is that we shine the light of Christ together, by being a passionate and vibrant community of Christian faith, and by serving the city and Diocese of Atlanta, and the world.

Sam loves the lively community and diversity of parish life. An amateur pianist, he had intended to become a jazz musician before he was called into the priesthood. Thus, he values the role of music in prayer, and has served on Liturgy and Music Committees in several dioceses. Besides his love of scripture and bible study, he also loves the outdoors; he continues to fish, hunt, hike, and observe the stars as much as possible. Sam is quite active in Atlanta's interfaith community and he helped develop its formal structure, named the Faith Alliance of Metro Atlanta. Furthermore, Dean Candler is a frequent teacher and preacher in the United States and in the wider Anglican Communion. Finally, Dean Candler speaks regularly on the role of religion in matters of science and environmental sustainability.

For more of Dean Candler's presentations, go to From the Dean.