Fr. David J. Boase came to be Rector of the Episcopal Parish of Alton in October 2004 from York Diocese in the Church of England. Born in 1949 and a native of the north-west County of Cumbria in England, he attended Durham University receiving a B.A. degree. From Durham he went on to seminary at Cuddesdon College Oxford studying also at Trinity College Oxford.

His early years in ministry, after being made Deacon in 1973 and ordained Priest in 1974, were spent back in his native County of Cumbria. After his 'title' parish at Penrith, he taught ordinands for some time at Greystoke College before moving to Gibraltar to be Precentor at Holy Trinity Cathedral, Port-Missioner and Officiating Chaplain to the Royal Navy. Then, from the Mediterranean he transferred to Sweden where, from his base in Gothenburg, he ministered in addition to satellite congregations along the west coast of Sweden.

On returning to England Fr. David was priest in a parish on Teesside in York Diocese for six years, before spending sixteen years as part-time parish priest and part-time Archdeaconry Clergy In-Service Training Officer.

A life-long sports fan, Fr. David rowed for his colleges, and has played rugby union, cricket and squash. Nowadays his efforts are confined to trying to learn the mysteries of the golf swing! He has a son, Andrew, and a daughter, Hilary.

Fr. David is a member of Alton Little Theater, and serves on the Advisory Board for the Lewis & Clark Community College Nurse-Managed Program. In addition he is an Examining Chaplain to the Bishop of Springfield, a member of the Council for Ministry and serves as Secretary to the Standing Committee of the Diocese of Springfield.