Our Pastor and Staff
Pastor Nate Craddock
The Rev. Nathaniel Craddock (Pastor Nate) comes to Pilgrim UCC full of hope for the future and excitement for the privilege of walking with this community as it discerns the ways in which God is calling it to grow. Pastor Nate is passionate about the practice of hospitality first and foremost, and looks forward to sharing in Pilgrim's mission to extend God's welcome to the people of Bridgetown and beyond.
Pastor Nate comes from a broad ecumenical background and has a special love for practices of spiritual formation and direction, as well as for good preaching that is conversant with our Scripture, our faith tradition, and the realities of modern life. Pastor Nate is a communion junkie and loves the deep traditions, rituals, and art that make up the Christian story.
In his professional life, Pastor Nate has worked as a vocational counselor for adults with disabilities, as a foster care worker, a psychiatric chaplain, residential staff for a youth crisis program, and as a musician. He has experience organizing faith communities from the ground up and has led non-profit work for reconciliation between the Church and the LGBTQ community. He holds an MDiv from Asbury Theological Seminary, a BA in music from Asbury University, and has completed most of a master's in musicology at UK.
Pastor Nate was raised in the United Methodist Church, and was ordained in the independent Catholic tradition. The UCC has become home for him because of its commitment to covenant and to uniting Christians of myriad traditions, as well as its commitment to prophetic witness and openness to a God who is still speaking. Pastor Nate has had full ordained standing in the United Church of Christ since May, 2018.
Pastor Nate married his incredible husband Michael in May 2017; Michael is beginning his PhD program in School Psychology at the University of Kentucky in the fall. Together they split their time between Lexington, KY to support Michael’s vocation and Cincinnati with their daughter, Lucy, and their dog, Calvin. In Nate’s spare time, he lifts weights, plays video games, reads dead languages for fun, and writes on and researches ancient cosmologies.
Pastor Nate can be reached via email here or by calling the church office at 513-574-4208.
David Ralphs, MA – Organist
Email: ralphsd@uc.edu
Chrisy Greene – Preschool Director
Email: info@pilgrimpreschool.com