Rev. Dr. Randall Day
Rev. Dr. Randall Day

Rev. Dr. Randall Day is retiring after 15 years as rector at St. Mark’s-in-the-Valley and priest of the Episcopal Church in the Episcopal Diocese of Los Angeles.

In honor of his years of leadership and service to the parish and the larger Santa Barbara community, St. Mark’s invites the community to celebrate him at a reception immediately following the service at 10 a.m. Oct. 1.

Through his dedication, volunteer work, and daily example, Day is a friend to those in the community who are most in need and has always worked to make Los Olivos a welcoming place for all, his parish said.

At St. Mark’s, he worked to develop a range of community programs and services, including the Santa Ynez Valley Community Kitchen and the Open Doors policy, which provides free meeting space to community organizations.

He has served on the boards of numerous church, community, and government organizations over his 38 years of ordained ministry.

Most recently, he served on the board and several committees of the Santa Barbara Foundation and the Board of Dunn School in Los Olivos, and as a part-time, on-call chaplain for Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital.

Although retiring from parish ministry, Day will serve Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital as chaplain.

Some of Day’s awards and recognitions include the 2023 Champion’s Award from CommUnify Santa Barbara, the Outstanding Service in Bringing People of Diverse Cultures Together presented by New Jersey’s Bergen County Martin Luther King, Jr. Birthday Observance Committee, and Ally of the Year in 2022 by the Anti-Defamation League, Santa Barbara/Tri-Counties Office.

He was named Santa Ynez Valley Man of the Year in 2019.

St. Mark’s is working with the Diocese of Los Angeles on the year-long process of selecting another rector. An interim rector will serve the parish in the meantime.

Formed in 1926 and serving the Santa Ynez Valley at its present location in downtown Los Olivos since 1979, St. Mark’s practices a spacious Christianity and welcomes people of all faiths or none.

In addition to being an Episcopal parish, St. Mark’s is a no-fee community center for nonprofit groups and community meetings, an arts venue, and a welcome center. It is also home to the area’s Jewish community.

Open doors, restrooms, free wi-fi, a shady courtyard, gardens, a labyrinth, and water for pets are available for visitors and area residents all day, every day.

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