Meet the Clergy
The Rev'd. Burl Salmon
Rector
The Reverend Burl Salmon is the twenty-ninth rector of The Falls Church, beginning his tenure on 1 July 2021. A native of Natchez, Mississippi, Burl received his education at Millsaps College, Yale Institute of Sacred Music, and Berkeley Divinity School at Yale. Following a career in secondary education in Episcopal schools and non-profit management, Burl was ordained both deacon and priest in the Diocese of Atlanta before serving as a chaplain at Trinity Episcopal School in Charlotte, North Carolina, and as
associate rector at The Church of Bethesda-by-the-Sea in Palm Beach, Florida. A strong advocate for social justice, Burl is dedicated to ministries that break down walls and build up communities, working daily for the creation of the Kingdom of God. A musician and an educator, Burl thinks about Christian discipleship creatively and loves the questions of faith as much as he finds strength in the promises of faith. He is a devoted student of scripture and the deep and authentically Anglican approach to theology and liturgy.
Burl serves as chair of the Clergy Advocacy Board of Planned Parenthood Federation of America and looks forward to continued work in the areas of justice and equity in Northern Virginia. He and his husband, Robert Henkel, live in the rectory with their cat, Blue.
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Email Fr. Burl at bsalmon@thefallschurch.org or call the church office at 703.241.0003, ext. 4368.
The Rev'd. Matthew Machowski
Associate Rector
Matthew joined The Falls Church Episcopal in November 2020 after graduating from the Virginia Theological Seminary. He was ordained to the priesthood in September 2020 by the Bishop of Virginia. During seminary and after graduation in 2020, he served for two-and-a-half-years as deacon and seminarian at Grace Church in Alexandria, Va. Originally Polish-German, Matthew speaks four languages and has lived his entire adult life as an immigrant on three continents. Travelling is one of his life’s passions, which has led him to visit more than 50 countries worldwide.
Matthew is passionate about the intersection of religion and politics, interfaith relations, reconciliation, peace-making, and the refugee crisis around the world.
Matthew is a former Roman Catholic and he eventually came across the Anglican tradition while living in Qatar. He has a deep appreciation for Anglican theology, liturgy and spirituality. Being an academic at heart, Matthew still intends to pursue a doctorate in theology in the future.
Matthew provides pastoral leadership to Children and Families, Youth, and Adult Christian Formation ministries as well as our Outreach ministries and 20s-30s Ministry.
Email Matthew at mmachowski@thefallschurch.org or call the church office at 703.241.0003, ext. 4410.