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Clergy & Staff


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Clergy & Staff


CLERGY & STAFF

Clergy

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The Rev'd Stephen C. Holton - Rector

Fr Stephen Holton is the XIII rector of Christ Church. A native of middle Georgia, Fr Holton earned his BA at Emory University and prepared for the priesthood at Yale Divinity School (MDiv). During seminary Fr Holton served as intern at Christ Church and subsequently was appointed curate. He was ordained to the priesthood in the parish on the Feast of St Ambrose. Immediately prior to returning to Christ Church, he served as associate rector of Grace Church in New York, where his portfolio included outreach and service as lower school chaplain and adjunct religion faculty in the high school division of Grace Church School. Prior to ordination, Fr Holton worked in fundraising and nonprofit management in the arts, education, and human services sectors. He is a past convener of the Society of Catholic Priests for the greater New York region and is a past board member of The Society for the Increase of Ministry and The Episcopal Network for Stewardship. He presently serves on the board of the Community Soup Kitchen at Christ Church and is an associate fellow of Branford College.

 

The Rev’d L. Jett McAlister - Curate

Fr Jett McAlister was raised outside of Little Rock, Arkansas, and studied English and creative writing (BA, Rice University; MFA, University of Virginia; MA, University of Chicago) before discerning a call to Holy Orders. Fr Jett graduated from Yale Divinity School (MDiv) and Berkeley Divinity School at Yale. He was ordained to the priesthood in the parish on the Feast of Ss. Timothy and Titus. He trained in hospital chaplaincy at Bridgeport and Danbury Hospitals, completing four units of Clinical Pastoral Education (CPE). He also served for two years as the chaplain to St Hilda’s House. In addition to his ministry at Christ Church, Fr Jett works in graduate medical education at Norwalk Hospital. His interests include incarnational theology, the history of liturgical traditions, and spirituality and medicine. In his spare time, he enjoys practicing piano, long- distance running, and viewing contemporary art.

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The Rev’d Armando Ghinaglia - Priest Affiliate

Fr Armando Ghinaglia (BA Yale College - Political Science, MDiv Yale Divinity School, JD Yale Law School) was ordained a priest in 2018 and served as curate at St. John's, Bristol, and Church of Our Savior, Plainville, before coming to Christ Church. He is a native of Venezuela and was raised in Texas. At Yale Law School he engaged in litigation and advocacy on behalf of fellow immigrants and workers. Presently he clerks for the Honorable Alvin W. Thompson, US District Judge for Connecticut. Informally, Fr Armando studies and teaches about how patristic interpretation of the psalms might inform Christian spirituality and living in the modern day. He is married to Abigail (Abbie) Storch, whom he met in divinity school and who serves on the vestry at St. John's, New Haven.

The Rev’d Teresa Morgan - Priest Affiliate

Mtr Teresa Morgan (BA., M.A., Ph.D. Cambridge; B.A., M.A. Oxford; LRAM, Dip.RAM) is the inaugural McDonald-Agape Professor in New Testament and Early Christianity at Yale Divinity School and Berkeley Divinity School at Yale. Immediately prior to Yale she served as Professor of Graeco-Roman History and Nancy Bissell Turpin Fellow and Tutor at Oriel College, Oxford. She ministered at Ss Mary & Nicholas, Littlemore, and St Andrew, Sandford-on-Thames, both in the Diocese of Oxford. Former Chair of Oxford’s Faculty of Classics, Mtr Teresa focuses her work on ancient history, biblical studies, patristics, and theology. Among her books are Literate Education in the Hellenistic and Roman Worlds (1998), Popular Morality in the Early Roman Empire (2007), and Roman Faith and Christian Faith (2015). Her most recent work, The New Testament and the Theology of Trust: “This Rich Trust,” was published in summer 2002. In addition to her priestly and scholarly work, Mtr Teresa is a musician and published poet.

The Rev’d Andrew G. Osmun - Priest Affiliate

The Rev. Andrew G. Osmun graduated from Lenox School and then Williams College, Massachusetts, in 1971. Baptized as a child, he experienced a personal conversion to faith as a young adult and subsequently received his call to ordination while at St. Columba’s, Inverness, California. He graduated in 1975 from Wycliffe Hall, Oxford (UK), and was ordained in the Diocese of Pittsburgh the same year. He served St. Stephen’s, Mckeesport; Transfiguration, Clairton; St. Luke’s in Chester, Vermont; St. Peter’s, Milford, Connecticut; Christ and the Epiphany, East Haven; and St. Mark’s, Bridgeport. He is a trained Spiritual Director, Member of the Fellowship of St. John (SSJE), Trustee of the Society of Anglican Missionaries and Senders, and active in criminal justice reform and advocacy.

 

The Rev’d E. Bevan Stanley, priest affiliate

Fr Bevan Stanley came to New Haven as an undergraduate at Yale. He and his wife Alinda ran a bookstore for ten years. They joined Christ Church in 1976, where their daughters were among the first “boat girls.” The parish sponsored Bevan for ordination, and following graduation from Yale Divinity School / Berkeley Divinity School at Yale in 1983 he was ordained to the priesthood at Christ Church and served as Curate in the parish. The bishop appointed him Vicar of St. Peter’s on the Hill in Hamden, and in 1990 he led the merger of St. Peter’s on the Hill with Grace Church. After fifteen years in Hamden, Fr Bevan served several other parishes, ending with almost ten years at St. Michael’s Church in Litchfield. He has served as a spiritual director, consulted in parishes, and coached parish leaders. Trained in community organizing by the Industrial Areas Foundation, he worked for change in New Haven with Elm City Congregations Organized in the 1990’s. He earned a Doctor of Ministry from Hartford Seminary in 2003. A deputy to four General Conventions, he served on its Prayer Book and Liturgy Committee three times. For five years he served as a Reader of the General Ordination Exams for the national church. Currently Fr Bevan is Chaplain to the retired clergy of the South Central Region of the diocese.

He and Alinda share interests in pre-Norman Britain, reading, the Adirondacks, theater, and travel. In 2005 he and a friend paddled the Hudson River 313 miles from its source at Lake Henderson in the Adirondacks to New York City. Fr Bevan and Alinda’s two grown daughters live in Anchorage and Minneapolis.


Staff

Alex Whittington - Director of Music

Alex Whittington serves as Director of Music for the parish where they work collaboratively with the Rector, organists, and choristers. They earned an M.M. in Choral Conducting at Yale University, where they also received their M.A. in Music History and B.A. in Music. A New York native, Alex’s musical background was primarily shaped by their upbringing as a ballet dancer, pivoting later to voice, conducting, and composition. Their main area of study is Puerto Rican choral music, focusing on edition-making and reconstructions of works by Felipe Gutiérrez y Espinosa and Esther Alejandro de León. For the 2023–2024 academic year, they served as the director of the Marquand Chapel Choir and the interim director of music at Christ and Holy Trinity Episcopal in Westport, CT. They served as the graduate Assistant Conductor of the Yale Glee Club in the 2024-2025 season. Alex's professional ensemble credits include the Yale Schola Cantorum and Puerto Rico-based ensemble Orfeón San Juan Bautista.

 

Prof. Thomas M. Murray - Artist in Residence & Principal Organist Emeritus

Thomas Murray, the Principal Organist Emeritus & Artist in Residence at Christ Church, is also former University Organist and Professor Emeritus of Music at Yale University, where he taught and performed on the renowned Skinner organ in Woolsey Hall. Widely known for his interpretations of Romantic repertoire and orchestral transcriptions, his recordings are highly acclaimed. Professor Murray has appeared in recitals and lectures at six national conventions of the AGO, which named him International Artist of the Year for 1986. In 2003 he was named an honorary fellow of the Royal College of Organists in England, and in 2005 he was awarded the Gustave Stoeckel Award for excellence in teaching from the Yale University School of Music. He has made numerous recordings on the AFKA, Gothic, and JAV Labels.

Luke Plein - Assistant to the Rector

Luke Plein is an undergraduate student in Yale College, where he studies End-of-Life Medicine and Pastoral Care, focusing on the intersection between theology and medicine.

Luke believes Ubi caritas et amor, Deus ibi est — that where there is charity and love, so is the presence of God. He researches The Rule of Saint Benedict and has previously spent time with a monastic community. He is currently writing on how we can apply Benedictine principles to daily life to serve our Blessed Lord and our communities better. 

God love you!

Ben Schober - Sexton

Ben has worked at Christ Church since October, 2012, and lives in New Haven with his daughter Roxy and their two kittens Reba and Daisy. He is very active in local sober communities. Ben is a 1993 graduate of the Culinary Institute of America. He may be seen running the streets of New Haven and surrounding towns while training for the New Haven road race or the Hartford marathon.

 

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Vestry


Vestry


Vestry

Senior Warden: Robin Landis

Parish Warden: Jeremy Mudd

Treasurer: James Smith

Clerk:  Alinda Stanley

Class of 2026: Ben Geertz, Susan Rood, Rachel Sexton

Class of 2027:  Nancy Horn, Lorraine Siggins, Stephen Young

Class of 2028: Gary Fountain, Merlyn LaPaix, Thomas Williford

 

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Position Openings


Position Openings


Position Openings - Christ Church New Haven

Christ Church Parish seeks to call a person or persons to fill the below openings as part of the parish ministry team. See below for more information. 

Questions and/or applications should be made to search@christchurchnh.org.  When applying please include a current resume as well as a cover letter (which need not be a separate attachment — it may be the body of your email) including the following points: (1) What about the position(s) you are applying for seems like a call to you? (2) Why do you wish to work in an Anglican-Catholic, urban parish? See each job description for additional items to include in your application packet.

Christ Church Parish does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, disability, sex, orientation, or gender identity.

The position(s) will remain open until filled. Applicants will be notified upon closing of each position.

BACKGROUND

Christ Church is an Episcopal church in the heart of downtown New Haven, Connecticut. Founded in 1854, Christ Church is an historically Anglican-Catholic parish, and thus maintains both the highest standard of liturgical, homiletical, and musical excellence in liturgy and a robust commitment to serve our community.

Part of the Episcopal Church in Connecticut, Christ Church is located in downtown New Haven, a city that economist Jed Kolko has written “looks most like the US” statistically.[1]  Situate in what was known as Poverty Square, at the intersection of Broadway and Elm Street, Christ Church sits along the border of Yale and Newhallville, working in the presence of great financial and intellectual capital alongside great marginalization, poverty, and oppression.

Founded in 1854 during the Oxford Movement to provide a more frequent celebration of the Sacrament of Holy Communion, the parish presently offers daily prayer (Rite I), two in-person masses each Sunday (Rite II and Rite I), and (during term time) an evening Compline service serving the University community.  Daily mass is offered Monday through Friday. At least one service each day is offered over livestream. The prayer life of the parish is supported by a host of professional musicians and volunteer guild members committed to the worship of the Lord in the beauty of holiness.  In all that we do and say, we seek to show people the love of God revealed in Jesus Christ.

The parish is host to Community Soup Kitchen, founded in 1977, offering a hot meal six days a week to hungry residents and visitors to New Haven.  This year over 75,000 meals will be served alongside medical and social services.  (csknewhaven.org)

The Parish is also partners with Citizens Project, a Yale-based life-skills program for persons who have been incarcerated and are in recovery.

POSITIONS OPEN (click for more detail)

Parish Organist - As principal organist, the Parish Organist supports the musical life of the parish, working with the Rector and Director of Music and supporting the Principal Organist Emeritus & Artist in Residence in accompanying, playing hymns, and offering organ repertoire as part of liturgical services.

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Openings - Assistant Organist


Openings - Assistant Organist



Position: Parish Organist or Organ Scholar

Position Description:

The Parish Organist assists the Music Director and supports the Principal Organist Emeritus in leading the musical liturgical prayer life of the Parish.

 Duties include:

  •  Serve collegially with the Director of Music and Principal Organist Emeritus & Artist in Residence, reporting to the Rector as head of staff.

  • Perform preludes, voluntaries, service music, and provide choral accompaniment as requested and in consultation with the Director of Music for Sunday services as well as weekday Saints' days and Feast days.

  • On occasion as agreed prepare and direct the choir for services.

  • Manage the choral library weekly, in consultation with the Director of Music.

  • Supply voluntary titles for the service leaflet in a timely fashion (generally two weeks in advance).

  • Maintain a high standard of excellence within the musical and liturgical traditions of the parish, while also suggesting new resources or strategies as appropriate.

  • Participate in the overall staff function of the parish, including a weekly staff meeting and other duties as may be assigned.

  • As a member of the parish staff and community, share in the responsibility of maintaining a secure and safe environment on campus while promoting collegiality amongst staff and fellowship amongst parishioners.

The Parish Organist will have access to the Kibitz Memorial Organ for their own use subject to advance scheduling, including use for recording and performance. 

Qualifications:

Advanced degree preferred (MM or similar or higher); prior experience preferred and considered in lieu of advanced degree.

Experience in church ministry, whether paid or unpaid, is useful.

Familiarity with Episcopal liturgy and polity is useful.

 Skills:

  • Attention to detail.

  • Strong oral, written, verbal, and interpersonal communication.

  • Effective collaborative and pastoral style.

  • Strong integrity, honesty, and confidentiality.

  • Ability to take initiative and make decisions.

  • Working knowledge of all major office software including word processing, spreadsheets, database management, and web design.

Compensation and scope are flexible, competitive, and based on education and experience. Students may be considered for this position; experienced candidates may expect a more robust compensation package and scope of work. All applicants should possess the ability to play an entire service including hymns, psalm accompaniment, anthem accompaniment, and organ repertoire of various degrees of difficulty.

Hours including rehearsal time are estimated at 10 to 20 hours per week depending upon scope and experience. The position may be structured as interim (one year) to a multi-year commitment. Compensation ranges from $15,000 for ten months to $34,000 per annum plus housing.

To apply, send resume, cover letter (may be an email), recordings of two organ pieces (one of which should be a hymn or an accompaniment), and three references to search@christchurchnh.org.  Christ Church Parish does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, disability, sex, orientation, or gender identity.

Direct questions to search@christchurchnh.org.