New Deaf Priest Seeks to Revitalize New York’s Historic Deaf Church

New Deaf Priest Seeks to Revitalize New York’s Historic Deaf Church
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St. Ann’s Church in New York, the United States’ first church specifically dedicated to the Deaf community, is aiming for a spiritual and social revival with the appointment of its new priest.

According to The Independent, Father William Erich Krangel, who is himself Deaf, has been appointed as the church’s seventh Deaf priest and its first full-time Deaf leader since 2007.

Father Krangel has announced his goal is to rebuild the connections among Deaf members and create a space for their spiritual and social participation. The church, which currently operates out of the basement of St. George’s, previously boasted over 300 members, but attendance has recently dwindled to about 15 people per service.

To reverse this decline and restore the church’s standing, Father Krangel plans to introduce new programs and increase activity on social media platforms.