The Rev. Dr. Hilary Barrett has been Senior Pastor of Pleasantville Church since 2003. She is ordained in the United Church of Christ and has served on several national church boards. Hilary grew up in Berkeley, California where she developed an enduring love for the place where mountains and ocean meet. Her lifelong love for story found expression in an undergraduate degree in World and Comparative Literature from San Francisco State University. She holds graduate degrees from United Theological Seminary of the Twin Cities (M. Div.) and Pacific School of Religion (D. Min). Her Doctor of Ministry thesis was entitled, “Telling Stories: Narrative Approaches to Congregational Studies.” For the past 20 years Hilary has served in settled pastorates and interim settings in Pennsylvania.

“Worship is the center of our common life. Coming from an interfaith background (Jewish & Christian), and not growing up in the Christian tradition, deeply shapes my approach to worship. Every worship experience is an opportunity to convey hospitality to those who may be new among us (or may still feel themselves to be new to the faith); every sermon is an opportunity to teach. Here at Pleasantville, hospitality is a core religious value and we hope to express that in many ways -- through worship that is inviting to children, youth and adults; in ways that build leadership among our young people and value the wisdom of our elders; and through a warm and generous welcome to all who find their way here.”  Contact Pastor Hilary at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it