The Rev. William Blake Rider

Denomination: The Episcopal Church (TEC)
Organization: Christ Church Episcopal

The Rev. William Blake Rider is rector of Christ Church Episcopal in Poughkeepsie, New York and co-recipient of the 2006 John Hines Preaching Award by Virginia Theological Seminary.

He is a native of Oklahoma, hailing from a small town named Nowata. He is a descendent of the Cherokee Nation. His family considers itself Native American, not Anglo. He grew up in the First Christian Church (Disciples of Christ).

He attended Oral Roberts University in Tulsa, on a scholarship as an Athletic Trainer for the basketball team. He became an Episcopalian while at ORU. His undergraduate degrees from ORU were in History and Business Administration.

He worked in the oil and gas industry for almost 20 years.  He was neither an engineer nor a scientist but worked in the "business end" of the business. During that time he lived in Karachi, Pakistan (for about a year) and in Tunis, Tunisia (for about 4 years).

Prior to seeking ordained ministry, he helped to open an AIDS residential facility in Houston and helped to implement a series of programs that provide training to young children at risk for dyslexia.

He attended seminary at Virginia Theological Seminary in Alexandria. Upon graduation from seminary in 2004, he was ordained and joined the staff at Christ Church Cathedral in Houston, Texas.

His ministry at Christ Episcopal Church in Poughkeepsie began in June of 2006.