The Reverend R. Charles Grant was called as pastor of Bon Air Presbyterian Church in the fall of 1993, beginning his ministry here in February 1994.  Prior to coming to Bon Air, Dr. Grant held pastorates in Tennessee, Virginia and Missouri.

A native of Florida, Dr. Grant grew up in Orlando.   He took his undergraduate degree from Furman University in 1973, majoring in history, with minors in classics and religion.  He received the master of divinity degree (1976) and doctor of ministry degree (1983) from the Divinity School of Vanderbilt University.

Additional courses of study included three years of graduate study in New Testament at Vanderbilt (1976-1979), clinical pastoral education training at St. Elizabeth's, Washington, D.C. (summer 1975), and archaeological field study in Israel (summer 1972).  During his ministry Dr. Grant has pursued advanced training in conflict management, church organizational behavior, and structural family therapy.

Ordained to the ministry in the Presbyterian Church in 1978, Dr. Grant's first call was as associate pastor of Trinity Presbyterian Church, Nashville, Tennessee.  Eight years of ministry with Colonial Heights Presbyterian Church (1978-1987) followed.  Dr. Grant then served First Presbyterian Church in Cape Girardeau, Missouri for six years (1987-1994) before returning to Virginia and Bon Air Presbyterian Church in 1994.

Dr. Grant is a Past President and leading spokesman for RISC, the faith based community organizing movement of which BAPC is a founding congregation.  He also serves on the steering committee for Rehoboth, a clergy renewal and peer learning project offered to Presbyterian church professionals through Union-PSCE. A veteran member of the Committee on Ministry of the Presbytery of the James, he is currently serving as vice moderator.
 
Dr. Grant and his wife Ruth Ellen Wade Grant are celebrating their 30th anniversary in 2007.  Ruthie is an ordained Presbyterian Church elder.  She teaches preschool at St Mary's Episcopal School.  Charles and Ruthie have two children, Chris, a computer software engineer, and Liz, a student in the graduate School of Social Work at VCU.  At home Dr. Grant enjoys working in his yard, maintaining their bird feeders, hanging out with their Cocker Spaniel, Scooter.   A high school cross country runner, Dr. Grant returned to running in 1986, and still enjoys running and vigorous walks near their Bon Air home.
 
Dr. Grant is married to Ruth Ellen Wade Grant.  They have two children, Christopher and Elizabeth.