Leah Watson – Bio

Leah is originally from Northern California, finding her way to Santa Barbara via Westmont College, where she graduated in 1997. The following year, on a Sundaymorning, she shook the new associate pastor’s hand in the doorway of El Montecito Presbyterian and then proceeded to marry The Rev. Dr. Mark Watson the following year. Leah served as a pastor’s wife for twelve years alongside Mark in Presbyterian churches in Santa Barbara, Silicon Valley and North Carolina. During this season they were blessed with the birth of two children, Benjamin and Clara — who continue to be a blessing, now in 3rd and 2nd grade at Montecito Union School (both are alum of All Saints Parish School). A few years ago, Mark transitioned out of traditional pastoral ministry into working with the elderly as the chaplain at Valle Verde retirement community and founding Watson Fiduciary. For the first time the Watson Family could “church shop” and to their delight All Saints become home. Their first Sunday here, Clara snuggled up to Leah after receiving communion and said, “I think God wants us here.” They never left. Leah is the Director of Marketing for a local academic publisher and also does consulting work in content development, strategy and web design. Her greatest joys are adventures with her family, dance parties in the living room, spiritual journaling and all sorts of domestic puttering.