Our Clergy & Staff
Our people are the heart of our parish. As our community leaders, they are here to help you on your spiritual journey and as you build connections with our ministries.
Rector
Christ Church Parish has begun the search process for our next Rector. Our Vestry (the Church Board) has taken the lead to continue and build programs at our parish. Our Deacon, the Reverend James Thomas will provide consistent worship services along with guest celebrants. With the transition guidance of Rev. Kelly A O’Connell, Regional Canon for the Southern Region, a Search Committee will be created for our journey through the calling process. Our mission, Seeking Christ in Ourselves, Serving Christ in the World, will continue.
The Reverend James Thomas, Deacon
The Reverend James Thomas is a native of Sandwich, Massachusetts. James had a musical childhood. A trombonist, he was privileged to gain acceptance into the collegiate studio of Professor David Sporny at the University of Massachusetts Amherst. As a performer, his credits include tours and recordings in the Afro-American Jazz and European Classical traditions across the United States and Europe. As an educator, middle and high school bands under his direction received awards for excellence at the regional and national level. After ten years of teaching, James began a new career in the professional fire service. He started over as a signal operator in the Barnstable County Sheriff’s Office. Today, he holds the title:Training Officer at the rank of Sergeant in the Public Safety Division of BCSO. James holds the degree of Masters of Public Administration with a concentration in Emergency Management and is completing the Master of Science in Criminal Justice with a concentration in Homeland Security. He is a graduate of the National Emergency Training Center and the Center for Domestic Preparedness. He is also currently the Diocesan Disaster Coordinator for the Episcopal Diocese of Massachusetts. He was nominated by Saint John’s, Sandwich and accepted into postulancy for the diaconate. During the ordination process, he met a fellow deacon postulant Natalie Finstad.James and Natalie were married in August 2019 at Saint John’s and ordained together at the Cathedral Church of Saint Paul in Boston in June 2020. James and Natalie have a daughter Phoebe.
Parish Administrator
David Tyler
David is originally from Richmond, RI, currently living in Plymouth, MA. He holds a Bachelor of Voice Performance from McGill University in Montreal, Canada and a Master of Music in Vocal Pedagogy from New England Conservatory in Boston, MA. David has served as cantor, section leader and music director at various churches in the Plymouth, MA area. He also worked as Customer Support Representative at PartyLite Gifts for over 5 years. When not performing, David can be found caring for his two children and serving as Christ Church’s Parish Administrator since 2021.
Music Director
Lea Tyler
Lea, a native of Westminster, VT, received her Bachelor’s degree in 2009 in both Music and Music Education from McGill University in Montreal, Canada, and her Masters of Music Education from Boston University in 2012. Mrs. Tyler’s teaching career has included both classroom and choral music education in the Ayer-Shirley and Plymouth school districts. She has now taught in Plymouth since 2011 and has traveled to England with the Plymouth International Choir. She has been involved with the Plymouth Philharmonic Orchestra in their student outreach program. In the Fall of 2016, she assumed the duties as Music Director at Christ Church in Plymouth. Her family includes her husband David Tyler and her two children, who frequent the Christ Church community, Adelina and Henry.
Organist
Elijah Langille
Elijah is an avid educator and conductor throughout Massachusetts, currently conducting the New Bedford High School Orchestras as well as being the Music Director of the South Shore Conservatory Youth Orchestras. He sings with the Tanglewood Festival Choir, performing at venues like Boston’s Symphony Hall, Carnegie Hall, and the Koussevitzky Music Shed, under prominent conductors such as Andris Nelsons, Keith Lockhart, and Bramwell Tovey. Recently, Elijah was a conducting fellow at the Carter-Glennon International Masterclass, studying with renowned conducting pedagogue Markand Thakar. Elijah is an active conductor in the Boston area. He guest conducted the Parkway Concert Orchestra in 2018 as well as conducting Junior SEMSBA Orchestra in 2017 and the Senior SEMSBA Orchestra in 2016. Elijah studies conducting with Michael Ellis Ingram, the Korrepetitor, and Kapellmeister of the Mecklenburg State Theater in Schwerin, Germany. As a graduate of Gordon College, He had the opportunity to study with experienced and talented conductors such as Dr. David Rox and Dr. Walter Pavasaris.
Elijah consistently brings musicians together of different styles and backgrounds, creating a unique experience. As organist at Christ Church Parish, he hopes to encourage and enable those around him to be active participants in worship.
Sexton
Jae Johnson
Jae is a full-time custodian in the Plymouth Public School system. He has been a part-time member of the Christ Church Parish staff since 2007.
Christ Church Parish Vestry 2022
Christ Church Parish vestry has nine members who each serve for a term of three years. The senior and junior wardens, clerk and treasurer serve as the executive committee to the vestry bringing the total membership of the vestry up to 13. Members of the executive committee serve a term of one-year but are eligible to be re-elected for up to six consecutive terms. Each year the vestry members and the executive committee are elected at the annual parish meeting usually held on the first Sunday of February.
Senior Warden
Bill Ferguson
Junior Warden
Jack Willett
Clerk
Donna Eby
Treasurer
Ray Rogers
Lisa Blair
Dorothy Greene
Donna Lawrence
Drew Lench
John Steele
Lisa Meserve
Becky Metzger
Robb Pflock
Martha Zinger