The Reverend Craig Chandler Sweeney, 73, passed away Sunday, January 12, 2025, at his home in Topeka, Kansas. Craig was born April 7, 1951, in Baltimore, Maryland to John Easter Sweeney and Virginia Lee [Jackson] Sweeney, who both preceded him in death. Craig met his wife Robin Jo Roy in 1970 and they married in Topeka on August 25, 1973.
Craig is survived by Robin and their three daughters, Gretchen Sweeney of Washington, D.C., Virginia Barnes (Bryan) of Topeka, and Alice Sweeney of Topeka; as well as by his four grandchildren: Miles and Natalie Barnes, and Cooper and Phineas Szabo. Craig also is survived by his four siblings: John Sweeney (Barbara) of Everett, WA; Michele Sweeney of Pueblo, CO; Michael Sweeney (Rhonda) of Lawrence, KS; and Mary Howell (Mike) of Topeka; as well as 14 nieces and nephews and their families, and many in-laws.
Craig grew up in Topeka, attending Gage Elementary, Landon Junior High, and Topeka High School, where he graduated in 1969. Craig briefly attended Prescott College in Arizona and then received his B.A. from the University of Denver in 1973 where he earned Phi Beta Kappa. During college, he was an exchange student for one year at the University of Kent in Canterbury, UK. Craig went on to earn an MBA/JD from University of Denver in 1978.
After graduation he worked in Washington state, and then moved his growing family to Illinois, Texas, and eventually back to Kansas. In Topeka he became general counsel for ShowBiz Pizza Place, part of Brock Hotel Corporation. He later owned Kaw Valley Title Company in Topeka.
In his 40s, he turned to his church, deepened his Christian faith, and was called to ministry. He completed a process of discernment, then enrolled at Virginia Theological Seminary in Alexandria, VA, where he received his M.Div. He was ordained as an Episcopal priest in 2001.
Craig served as rector at both Grace Episcopal Church in Winfield, KS, and Trinity Episcopal Church in Arkansas City, KS, from 2001 to 2006. He then served as rector at The Church of the Epiphany in Glenburn, PA, from 2006 to 2012. He retired in 2012 and returned to Topeka in 2017.
Craig enjoyed ministry and mentoring, gardening and gardens, cooking, writing, reading historical and science fiction, especially space opera, smoking cigars, and supporting progressive causes.
A memorial service will be held Saturday, January 25, 2025, at 10:00am CST at St. David’s Episcopal Church at 3916 SW 17th Street, Topeka, KS 66604. The service will be live streamed at www.youtube.com/@stdavidstopeka. Memorial contributions may be made to Episcopal Relief & Development (www.episcopalrelief.org), World Central Kitchen (https://wck.org/), or Doctors without Borders (https://donate.doctorswithoutborders.org/).
