Clergy

Clergy at Christ Church of the Ascension

The Rev. Daniel P. Richards, Rector

The Rev. Daniel Richards has spent his career teaching about the Rule of God and welcoming the children of God home. He is a passionate preacher and teacher who fell in love with liturgy in college. That love of liturgy led from a Baptist childhood steeped in Scripture to ministry in the Episcopal Church after college.

Daniel has served professionally in the church since 1995. Ordained as a priest in 2003, Daniel earned his Master of Divinity from the Church Divinity School of the Pacific while serving St. James Episcopal Church in San Francisco as a worship leader and intern and at the Diocese of California as Associate Coordinator of Young Adult Ministries and Church Development. He served parishes in both Tucson and Phoenix, as curate and vicar, before heading to Traverse City, Michigan, where he served as rector of Grace Episcopal Church and dean of the Grand Traverse Area Deanery. He has led international trips for both missions and pilgrimage, consulted with both secular and faith groups about culture and leadership, and currently serves as the Chaplain to the Phoenix Fire Department. 

Daniel lives in Phoenix with his wife Amy and three children where he reads voraciously, writes, and enjoys trail running in absurd temperatures. You can find his personal writing at HiddenHabits.org and find him on social media @danieloftheway on everything. He can be reached at 602-840-8210 or daniel.richards@ccaaz.org.

The Rev. Timothy J. Watt, Associate Rector

Fr. Tim is a former Higher Education Student Services Administrator, consultant, and lecturer in organizational leadership and human resources. He holds a BA from Boise State University, a Master of Administration from Northern Arizona University, and a Master of Divinity from the Virginia Theological Seminary.  Tim served his first call at St. John's Episcopal Church in Georgetown, Washington DC.  He was called to serve at Christ Church of the Ascension in October of 2018.

Tim is married to his amazing wife, The Rev. Tanya Watt, who serves as a Priest Associate at St. Augustine's Episcopal Church in Tempe, AZ. They live with their dog Daisy, upon whom they lavish an absurd amount of affection, as well as Paco, a cat who wandered in one night and now seems to have made himself at home.

As a priest, Tim most enjoys providing pastoral care and preaching. He spends an inordinate amount of personal time reading works in theology, liturgics, and Church history, but occasionally goes on a science fiction binge. He also enjoys college football, rooting for the D’backs, fishing, cooking, and baking sourdough bread. Tim also produces and co-hosts a fun, but deep-diving, weekly Podcast on the Sunday Lectionary, “The Irreverends,” with his friend and fellow priest, The Rev. Gini Gerbasi. Episodes are available on Apple Podcasts and Google Play. He can be reached at 602-840-8210 or timothy.watt@ccaaz.org.