Born and raised in the Midwest as a Presbyterian, Cynthia joined the Episcopal Church in High school when her family moved to Connecticut. She fell in love with the deep meaning and beauty of the Eucharistic Service and responded to the call to take what we receive in worship out into the world to love and serve the Lord. Having moved so much that she was in a different school every year from 4th grade until junior year of High School, she knows how it feels to be new to a community. She has been a part of many Episcopal Churches over the years that worshiped and practiced the Episcopal way in a wide variety of iterations.  She appreciates the fullness of life and worship available in the Episcopal Church and the loving, grace-filled understanding of how we are to receive others.

A graduate of Duke University with a BS in economics, Cynthia then became a missionary in Japan. This experience had a profound impact on her life and ministry at a very formative time. She later returned to the US to get her Masters in Divinity at Virginia Theological Seminary. During seminary she moved to Connecticut to marry Cheston Knapp who owned a business there, and completed her final year of studies at Yale Divinity School. After serving in ministry in various churches in Southwest Connecticut since 1988, she was called to Macon in 2016 to be the rector of Christ Church. She brings with her a love for God’s Word, a depth and breadth of parish ministry experience, a strong background in the ministry of prayer for healing, and a high regard for lay ministry.

Cynthia’s husband Chet is an enormous support to her and a partner in life and in ministry. They have 3 beloved grown children, David, Liane, and Laura, and a wonderful son-in-law, Brian who is married to Liane.