People
Please contact the church office for phone numbers and email addresses of individuals within the parish.
Church Office
- Ana Gerhardt, Parish Administrator
- I have been Parish Administrator at St. Thomas for a little over a year now. Before that, I was running my own catering business and cooking professionally after attending culinary school. I also have a degree in International Relations and worked for an environmental/human rights nonprofit out of college. It has been a pleasure putting my organizational skills to work for the community of St. Thomas. For now, I cook for the fun of it and occasionally teach a class. I live in Strafford, Vermont with my son, husband, dog and chickens and love spending time with them and being part of a vibrant rural community.
Clergy
- Rev. Dr. Guy J.D. Collins, Rector
- The Rev Dr Guy Collins hails from the United Kingdom, where he studied for his M.Theol. from St Andrews University, Scotland. Guy also holds a Ph.D. from the University of Cambridge for his dissertation on postmodern philosophy and theology. He was ordained within the Church of England, first working in London before moving to the US several years ago.
Guy is fascinated with the questions and the questioners of theology and faith. He has taught at seminary and college level and is enthusiastic being part of a wonderful learning community here at St Thomas. He is also a fan of Battlestar Galactica, The Golden Compass (or Northern Lights as he prefers to call it) and all movies and stories that make us think and question the reality of the world around us. Married to an archaeologist, Kristin, they have two daughters, Lyra and Beatrix. - Rev. Madelyn L. Betz, Curate
- The Reverend Madelyn L. Betz is the Curate at St. Thomas Episcopal Church and Episcopal Campus Minister at Dartmouth. Her special areas of interest are Bible and Liturgical History. She has an M.Div. from Episcopal Divinity School and an M.Mus. from Boston Conservatory, and she is an Associate at St. Margaret's Convent in Boston. Madelyn lives in Hanover where she loves to sew, read and play the piano. She also loves to stay in touch with her two grown children, Rachel and Jonathan, and her son-in-law Greg.
- Dr. Gerald R. Weale, Organist & Choirmaster
- Dr. Gerald Weale, Professor Emeritus of the Boston University School of Music, is our Organist and Choirmaster. Formerly chair of the Organ Department, he taught choral repertoire, conducting and other subjects at that institution for 29 years and has previously served parishes in New York City, New Jersey, and Massachusetts. Dr. Weale is a Fellow of the American Guild of Organists and holds the only Presiding Bishop's Certificate in Church Music ever awarded. His deep experience and love for music and the St. Thomas choir combine to make excellent music a very high priority in the parish. Jerry, a gifted teacher with an outrageous sense of humor, makes learning difficult music fun.
- Jean W. Beard, Assistant Treasurer
- I have been a member of St. Thomas Church since 1985—shortly after moving to NH from the Pennsylvania/Delaware area. I have served on the altar guild and coordinated the service of the acolytes .Currently I coordinate the project of bringing our shut-ins to the church (in the spring and in the fall)for the noonday service with a luncheon following. Since 1995 I have served as the asistant treasurer.
- Tonya Somers, Property Manager
- I live in Randolph, Vermont with my wonderful children Myia 8, Evan 16 months and husband Bob. I enjoy exercising and spending quality time with my family and friends. I have worked at St. Thomas since October 2003. I was working for Trumbull - Nelson Construction Company doing renovations for St. Thomas when my abilities were noticed and I was first offered the position of sexton. I am now the Property Manager of St. Thomas Church. I strive to maintain proper maintenance, cleanliness, security and increase the value of St. Thomas Church properties. I look forward to maintaining the integrity of the church on many levels. St. Thomas has become a part of my family. I feel very blessed to be part of this church.
- Penelope Prendergast, Senior Warden
- Born in London, England, baptized in St George's Church in Santa Cruz, Teneriffe, and brought up in Africa, London, Spain and Scotland, I had a very itinerant childhood. My bilingual mother, who was born in Santa Cruz, insisted on talking to her two daughters in Spanish at home, for which I am eternally grateful. I went to Cambridge University to study Spanish and German, and stayed to do my Ph.D. in the modern Spanish novel. Having run out of money before completing my thesis, I applied for fellowships in the U.S.A and spent a year at Princeton before getting married and joining the Morgan Bank. After two and a half years on Wall Street I realized it wasn't the life for me, finished my thesis, had three children, and moved between the East Coast and West Coast four times before settling in Norwich, VT in 1995. I started the Spanish program at Plainfield Elementary school in Meriden, N.H., before starting in 1997 at Hanover High School where I have worked ever since. I began to attend St. Thomas in the late 90s, but also attended St. Denis for the next few years because my children are Roman Catholic. I have thoroughly enjoyed volunteering in many capacities at St Thomas and love the church for the warmth and vitality of the parishioners, staff and clergy.
- Jean Brandt, Junior Warden
- I am retired from my primary profession, teaching Early Childhood in the SUNY system in Long Island, New York. I am a "cradle" Episcopalian and served on the vestry twice; once at St. Margaret's Church in Plainview, New York and here at St. Thomas Church. Collecting, working, and selling antiques at an antique shop in Vermont is how I spend much of my time. I have two wonderful daughters and three special grandchildren who live too far away. St. Thomas has been my parish home since May, 2000. Here I enjoy singing in the choir, serving as a Eucharistic Minister, and collecting food for The Haven, our community food shelf.
- Onita Connington, Treasurer
- Anne Collins
- Carter Dodge
- Posey Fowler
- John Jayne
- Charles Muntz
- Karen Orrick
- Rebecca Paquette
- Peter Saccio
- Kelly Seaman
- Sarah Slater