The Reverend Gillian R. Barr

Gillian spent the first 20-some years of her life in Annapolis, Maryland, where she came to love history, old buildings, the water, and small boats. Both of her late parents were teachers, so her love of teaching and learning is genetic. In addition to Annapolis, she lived in Rochester, Minnesota; San Diego, California; and several cities in Virginia before moving to Providence, Rhode Island five years ago. She is a graduate of the College of William and Mary in Virginia (BA), Princeton Theological Seminary (M.Div.), and Virginia Theological Seminary (Anglican Studies). Prior to discerning her call to ordained ministry she worked in history museums, as a lay Director of Christian Education in parishes, and as an assistant manager in public libraries.

Outside of ministry, her interests include travel, history of all sorts, photography, folk music, sports cars, college football, moderate exercise, reading, pets, Harry Potter, stationery and fountain pens. She is currently pet-servant to Roxy-cat, a dilute tortoiseshell. She grew up with dogs, and hopes to adopt a rescue Brittany when the time is right. She is ecstatic about her call to Calvary Church and looks forward to making Stonington her home.

860 535 1181 ~ x 14
rector@calvarychurchstonington.org

Officers

Lori Taylor, Senior Warden

Lori Taylor moved with her family to Pawcatuck 18 years ago from Washington Crossing, Pennsylvania where she and her husband, Jim, were members of St. Andrews Episcopal Church in Yardley. Lori has served on the Vestry since 2018, as well as organizing the Covenant to Care Backpack Program, the Annual Turkey Drive, and serving on the Stewardship Committee. Lori also participates in the Calvary Book Group. The generosity and response to those in need is the most fulfilling characteristic of Calvary for Lori. Her hope for the future of the parish is to spread that goodwill to community and grow Calvary’s reputation as a welcoming place for all to find faith and solace.

Juliet Hodge, Junior Warden

Juliet (Leeming) Hodge joined Calvary with her parents David and Pam, siblings Paul and Margaret, and grandmother after moving to Stonington in 1982. The front pew is still full of Leemings, including her niece and nephew, two of Calvary’s younger members! Juliet is a life-long Episcopalian and the granddaughter of an Episcopal priest. Juliet grew up in Pomfret CT and attended St. Mark’s Episcopal Church (Storrs), serving as an acolyte for many years. Juliet briefly sang in the choir at Calvary in the 80’s, but school took her away from Stonington until 1994, just before the birth of her daughter Morgan. Juliet and her husband Greg were married at Calvary in 2014, and recently moved to Voluntown. She was a member of the Search (Discernment) Committee that brought Gillian to Calvary. In addition to frequent acolyte duties, Juliet volunteers at the New London Community Meal Center with a group of parishioners.

Juliet earned a BA in Human Ecology/Environmental Policy from College of the Atlantic in Maine, and a Master’s in Community Planning at the University of RI and is currently the Director of Land Use and Planning for the Town of Ledyard. During her career, she has served on or staffed many municipal Boards and Commissions and has a passion for writing grants and strategic plans. When not at work, you can find Juliet enjoying great music at one of the many music festivals she attends!

Michael Garvey, Treasurer

I am a Pawcatuck resident with my wife Alexa and we have four daughters Sara, Maegan, Michelle and Hannah. Our family has been members of Calvary Church since 2000. I am a CPA and managing partner of Garvey, Steele & Bancroft, LLP, CPAs in Mystic, CT where I specialize in both taxation matters and auditing. I have served on numerous not-for-profit Boards as president and/or treasurer, including the Rotary Club of Mystic and Pawcatuck Neighborhood Center. Additionally I spent thirteen years on the Board of SI Financial Group, Inc. (a public company traded on the NASDAQ) where I served on numerous committees and was chairperson of the audit and risk committee. In my leisure time, I enjoy traveling and playing golf.

In my leisure time, I enjoy travel and golf.

Carole Barnard, Clerk

My husband, Brian, and I moved to Stonington in 2002 after 10 years in Castine, Maine and 25 years in Greenwich before that, and immediately joined Calvary, our neighborhood church. We were warmly welcomed and felt the friendliness and inclusiveness of the Rector and congregation.

I joined ECW (the Episcopal Church Women) and never left. I love the camaraderie and common goals I share with the other members, as we conduct fund raising events throughout the year to raise money to give away. I’ve chaired Hospitality and prepared two editions of the Church Directory. I have also served two terms on the Vestry and on the Search Committee when we called Fr. Alfred Tisdale. I’ve enjoyed Bible Study, movie nights, Prayer Group and especially Book Club for the last three years.

When I became a widow, I was really touched by how the parish reached out to me. I think the strength of Calvary is that everyone seems to be interested in everyone else. I would always turn to Calvary in time of trouble or crisis.

I think that Covid-19 has hit us very hard. Not being able to meet in person except on Zoom or outside is very unsatisfactory for a lot of people. So I hope we can soon gather together and start to grow our parish again. There are so many committed members that with the help of Gillian, it shouldn’t be hard to do. I am honored to be asked to be a part of this group.

Members

James Coker

James is excited to resume his service to Calvary as he returns to the Stonington area. James and his late wife Sarah, better known as “Miss Ray,” lived here on Church St. from 1990-2009, and were active members and leaders in the parish. They relocated to Portola Valley, California, but after Miss Ray’s death in 2019 James decided to return to this area. He currently divides his time between Charleston, South Carolina; Portola Valley, California and Old Mystic, and will be spending increasing time in Old Mystic beginning later this year after recovery from hip surgery.

James is currently also a member at Christ Church Portola Valley where he sings in the choir, and he’s already spoken with Matthew about returning to our choir. He served on Calvary’s Vestry when he last lived in Stonington. His lifelong history of church leadership began as a boy when he was an acolyte at St. Bartholomew’s Parish in Hartsville, South Carolina, his childhood church. On the vestry he hopes to be of service in whatever ways we need--whether via his financial and business experience or in other ways. He has been a disciple of Jesus Christ since childhood, and all of his adult study of science and contemporary physics has only deepened his faith in God.

James is a graduate of the Woodbury Forest School in Virginia, the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill (Bachelor’s in classical history and physics) and Harvard Business School (MBA). His professional life has focused on various roles in Sonoco Products Co., a global corporation founded by his family in Hartsville, SC over a century ago.

David Leeming

David Leeming grew up in an Episcopal household in the Diocese of New York. His father was an Episcopal priest. David and Pam are longtime Calvary members (as are their son Paul and his family and their daughter Juliet Hodge and hers). They are also members of the congregation at the Cathedral of Saint John the Divine in New York. David is a graduate of Princeton University with a PhD from New York University. He is a Professor Emeritus at the University of Connecticut in Storrs. He has written several biographies---including one on James Baldwin--and many books on mythology. He has also edited the Springer Publications Encyclopedia of Psychology and Religion. David and Pam lived in Stonington from 1982 until 1995, and moved back here five years ago.

Dean Davis

Originally from New York City, Dean came to Stonington Borough in 2004 after meeting Calvary parishioner Joanna Frank. He first attended Calvary in 2012. He is an alumnus of Duke University and earned an MBA from New York University. Much of his career was dedicated to software development at Microsoft. Now retired, he serves as a trustee of Salt Marsh Opera and is currently chairman of its investment committee. Dean has enjoyed participating in the Calvary book club. His other interests include sailing and classical music. He maintains a second home in Portsmouth, New Hampshire.

Kate Welch

Kate Welch along with her family (Duncan, Hunt and Laura) have been long-time members of Calvary Church. Hunt and Laura both participated in all the glorious Calvary traditions while they grew up. Hunt attended Calvary Nursery School too. Kate has been involved in Calvary in different capacities over the years: Vestry member, Outreach Committee Chair, Secretary of the Calvary Nursery School Board and Sunday School Teacher. She looks forward to serving this special community again.

Martha C. Merrill

Martha and her husband John Merrill, Jr. have regularly attended Calvary since 2018. They were previously members of St. John’s Episcopal Church in Essex, CT where they worshiped with their son Sebastian who now lives and works in Amherst, MA. John served on St. John’s vestry and the search committee for a new rector. Martha served as a lector and is continuing this ministry at Calvary where she also serves as Chair of the Mission and Outreach Committee.

Now retired, Martha worked at Connecticut College in various roles in admissions and advancement from 1988 until 2018. She spent a total of 20 years in admissions having served as Dean of Admission and Financial Aid at the College for 14 years. She finished out her career at the College in the Advancement Office where she served for three years, most recently as Executive Director of Leadership Gifts and Campaign Director. Prior to her tenure at Connecticut College, Martha served as Advertising Manager of the Scudder Funds at Scudder, Stevens & Clark in Boston, MA. She received her B.A. in psychology from Connecticut College in 1984.

Martha enjoys playing competitive tennis, swimming, boating with John in CT and Maine, reading and travel.

Colleen Bornstein

I first came to Calvary when my children attended Calvary Nursery School. My oldest daughter, Clare was the first to attend beginning in 1998; Anna followed in 2001 and Liam in 2005. From the very beginning Calvary Nursery School days, we fell in love with Calvary - the wonderful teachers and setting of the nursery school, the Rector, Mark Robinson, his wife Eleanor and their daughters and of course all the welcoming parishioners of Calvary. As a nursery school family, we were always invited to Calvary Church events and services. It was a lovely feeling to always be invited to be a part of the Church community. At the time, my family was living in Ol Mystic and we attended the Old Mystic Methodist Church. About a year after my daughter Clare attended Calvary, the Robinson’s went to a sabbatical to Uganda and my husband filled in as the music instructor for the nursery school! We really began to feel very comfortable at Calvary and in 2002 in time for the baptism of my son LIam, made Calvary our Church home.

Over the years, I have been involved with a few ministries at Calvary. When we first came to Calvary, I became one of the Sunday school teachers. I enjoyed this ministry for the better part of 10 years. I enjoyed working with the children of Calvary when teaching the Bible stories, helping with the Christmas pageants, filling and distributing Easter baskets, pancake suppers and St Nicholas day. I was part of a wonderful community of parents, teachers and clergy and enjoyed this time immensely.

Additionally I have helped with donations to the warm shelter, participated annually in Christmas presents for local families, been a member of the Prayer team and have helped with coffee hours. I have participated in the knitting group and needlepoint group. I have completed one kneeler and will complete another one in the year to come (hopefully!). I intend to get back to the knitting too!

The ministry that brings me joy the most at Calvary is the prayer group. I hold the members of the prayer team near and dear to my heart. The love and care that this group extends to all who ask for prayers is truly exceptional. I feel truly blessed to be a part of this group and to pray alongside them.

Over the next few years, my hope is for Calvary to expand and grow in number as a parish. While thinking of my early days at Calvary, I would like to be able to reach young families in the same way I was reached out to..I’d like to give back what was given to me - but not just to families - to anyone who may need a Church home. Calvary is such a special place because of the genuine sincerity of the people who make our lovely Church community.

Courtney Corkhill

Courtney (Marshall) Corkhill moved to Stonington Borough with her husband, Jeremy, and children Teddy, William, Caroline and Philippa in January 2017 after living abroad for over a decade in Zurich and London. The family joined Calvary and had little Pip baptized by Father Alfred in July of that year.

Courtney grew up in an active Episcopal family and served for many years as an acolyte at her hometown church, St. John’s, in Huntington, NY. She spent her high school years at St. Paul’s School in Concord, NH, where she was a Madrigal Singer. She then went on to Lehigh University in Bethlehem, PA, and graduated with a BA in Theater and Journalism in 2000.

After graduation, Courtney moved to Boston to work for an online bond trading company. In 2001, she began working for her father’s Investor Relations consulting firm in Wellesley, MA, and would go on to help run the firm for the next 15 years, working with senior management at companies such as General Electric, Roche and Santander Bank.

Courtney is a member of organizations such as the Junior League, Colonial Dames and the DSDI. She loves to play paddle tennis, ski, travel and wrangle children. She has served for the last three years on the COMO’s gala committee and volunteers her time frequently at Pine Point and Deans Mill School. She is enthusiastic about ramping up our children and youth programs here at Calvary.

Amy Carvell

Carl and I are both “Cradle Episcopalians” and were members of St. James Church in Glastonbury, CT for 45 years. We were both very active there…I served on the Vestry, was the Senior Warden as well as being active in ECW and with the teenagers in the Youth Council. In 2011 we moved from Glastonbury to Weekapaug, RI to live in a beach house that had been in my family since the mid-1920’s. During the many years we spent our summers in Weekapaug, we attended the Weekapaug Chapel and I served as clerk. After our move in 2011 we visited several area churches and quickly found Calvary and equally quickly chose it to become our new church home. We have attended services for the last 9 years and in September of 2020 we moved to StoneRidge which puts us physically closer to Calvary!

While at Calvary I have been primarily involved with activities involving the Episcopal Church Women. These have included doing the publicity for the Yard Sales and the Lenten Luncheons and knitted many prayer shawls.

Over the years at St. James, the Weekapaug Chapel and Calvary my interests and involvement have centered on activities of ECW and the children of the parishes. My joy has come from the strong friendships I have made through the church. These women have been my support through my life and I continually thank them for being my friends.

Looking ahead to the next 3 years at Calvary I would like to see more young families and children/youth participate in parish life. Not long ago I had a conversation with friends from StoneRidge who visited Calvary one Sunday morning and, when I asked if they had enjoyed the service, they said that they had, but the lack of children bothered them as their past parish had a vibrant children’s presence. They noted that they would be looking elsewhere for another church…. Obviously, there are not a large number of young families in Stonington Borough, but I am hopeful that as Covid 19 becomes a thing of the past, we can find a way to encourage younger families to join the church. The Nursery School, the Music School and perhaps a return of the Choristers and Acolytes seem to me to be a way to begin.

Kate Robins (also serves as a Diocesan Delegate)

Kate Robins moved to Mystic from Boston in 1994 with her husband, Tom Verde, and son, Sam. A life-long Episcopalian (St. Paul's in Riverside, Trinity Church in Boston), she joined Calvary as the first order of business. Her daughter, Lulu, was born two years later and baptized at Calvary by the Rev. Mark Robinson. Kate has taught Sunday school, co-directed the pageant, sung with the choir, and coordinated her Calvary activities with those of Lulu who sang in the treble choir under Simon Holt and provided child care in later years. She is currently on the Calvary discernment committee. Kate is a public relations consultant. She has served many boards of non-profit organizations in New London and is currently active with The Writer's Block, Ink, which transforms the lives of youth through the arts. She enjoys hiking on Sunday afternoons on the vast network of trails in the Pawcatuck watershed.

Diocesan Delegates

Jennifer Parsons

Jennifer moved to Stonington in 1995 with her husband Josh. They have three children, Quintin (age 21, a 3rd year St Andrew's), Oliver (age 19, a freshman at College of Charleston) and Charlie (age 17, a junior at St George's School). All three boys were confirmed through Calvary Church, and attended Calvary Nursery School where Jennifer served on the board as Vice President. Jennifer's vestry service includes previously serving as Junior Warden of St John's Church, Fishers Island, NY where she was co-chair of the search committee for their current rector. She has also served on the vestry of Calvary Church under Mark Robinson after which she was Junior Warden. During her time as Junior Warden at Calvary Church she worked with the interim rector and was on the search committee that called The Rev. Alfred Tisdale. Additionally, Jennifer served on Calvary's music search committee that resulted in Joey Ripka’s engagement. Jennifer has served on the boards of the Fishers Island Yacht Club, Hay Harbor Club and Island People’s Project.

Jennifer and Josh opened and ran Culinary Capers (now Mystic Market East) from 1995 to 2002. Currently she and Josh co-own Sound Real Estate Services in Mystic, and Jennifer additionally travels to manage financial and pharmaceutical companies’ off-site corporate events.

She most of all enjoys spending time with her family, and in whatever free time is left enjoys sailing competitively

VESTRY