Senior Pastor
Rev. John Hill
Rev. John Hill was born and raised in Ashland, Kentucky. He grew up a United Methodist and as a youth was highly involved in the local church, district, and conference youth ministries. While working at Aldersgate Camp in Kentucky during summers in college, he felt God’s call to vocational ministry. He earned his B.A. in Religion with minors in Philosophy and Leadership Studies from the University of Richmond in Virginia. He then attended Emory University and earned his M.Div. from the Candler School of Theology. While in seminary, he met and fell in love with his wife, Rev. Nancy Speas Hill, who is an ordained deacon and works at the United Methdodist Publishing House. They have two children, Becca (8) and James (4), and two dogs, Sasha and Buster. John has served as a youth minister at Northside UMC in Atlanta, associate pastor at Christ UMC in Louisville, pastor at Bethpage UMC in Sumner County, and associate pastor at Christ UMC in Franklin. He also serves as the chair of the Congregational Development Committee for the Tennessee Conference and as a member of the Nashville District Strategy Team. John is a true blue Kentucky basketball fan, loves strategy games and science fiction, and enjoys travelling and trying new things.
Music Director
Matthew Pyles
Matthew graduated summa cum laude from Middle Tennessee State University where he received his vocal/general music education degree with honors and was recognized with an Outstanding Achievement in Vocal Music Education award. While at MTSU he was the chapter president of ACDA and sang in their top choirs. He currently directs the middle school choirs, conducts the school musical and provides private lessons at Harpeth Hall in Nashville. He is also a freelance musician in the greater Nashville area.
Youth Coordinator
Julia Crone
Julia grew up in Columbus, Ohio, with her parents, two older sisters, and dogs. She is currently a Christian Leadership major at Belmont University, where she is also a sister of Alpha Gamma Delta and a student leader for InterVarsity, a Christian outreach ministry to the Greek community. She spent the past summer as an intern at Riverside United Methodist Church in Upper Arlington, Ohio, and joined our staff in the Fall of 2015. In her free time, she enjoys drinking coffee, reading Narnia books, and making crafts. Julia is currently studying abroad in Scotland but will rejoin us in the summer of 2017.
Children’s Ministry Coordinator
Erin Floyd
Erin Floyd holds a B.A. in Religious Education from Oklahoma City University, and is pursuing an M.A. of Christian Education from Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary. Before coming to Blakemore UMC, Erin worked for eight years in the local church, serving as the Director of Children’s Ministries and as the Director of Educational Ministries at St. Stephen’s UMC in Norman, Oklahoma. Erin is now the writer and editor of the Deep Blue Middle Elementary resources at The United Methodist Publishing House. Erin is passionate about child and faith development and is looking forward to being a part of the staff at Blakemore. In her free time, she enjoys journaling, taking walks, volunteering, and trying new coffee shops.
Maintenance
David Hardy
David has been with Blakemore for over 40 years, working hard and taking good care of the church building and the congregation.