Vestry
The Vestry is the elected Board of Directors in the Episcopal Church. The principle responsibilities of the vestry are to help define and articulate the mission of the congregation; to support the church's mission by word and deed, to select the rector, to ensure effective organization and planning, and to manage resources and finances.
Rev. Jennifer Vath
Rector
Jen came to Trinity Topsfield in June 2022, after serving as Assistant Rector of Christ Church in Andover, MA. She received her BA in Biology from Colby College, her MBA from Babson College, and her MDiv at Boston University School of Theology. Jen grew up in Topsfield, playing soccer at Masco, and worshiping at Trinity with her family through her high school years. After college Jen worked in the field of biotechnology, in a variety of operational and market research roles, and while working there met her future husband, Jim.
Jen is passionate about the spiritual life of children and families and helping people of all ages explore and act out their faith and calling. She was ordained to the priesthood in 2019. Jen and Jim now reside in Lynnfield and their family includes a set of twins, Jake and Emily, and older siblings Penny and Ben, who are thriving amidst the joys and challenges of college and young adulthood.
In her free time Jen logs miles on the Peloton, enjoys paddleboarding, delights in her husband Jim’s cooking, loves to talk around the dinner table, and dream about the future of the church.
You can email Rev. Jen at rector@trinitytopsfield.org
Rebecca Miller
Senior Warden
Rebecca began attending Trinity Church in 1968 when her family moved to Boxford. Her father was on the vestry and senior warden for years, and she sang in the choir and served as an acolyte. After a few years of young adult rebellion, she and her husband Mark Richards became members of Grace Episcopal Church in Norwood and later St. Paul’s in Millis where both of their children were baptized. Her family began attending Trinity in 1999 when they moved to Georgetown. At Trinity she has been mainly involved in outreach and the vestry. She has chaired the outreach committee for several years and she has been on the vestry as clerk, junior warden, and now serves as senior warden.
Rebecca attended Mount Holyoke College and Boston University School of Law. She worked for years as an assistant district attorney in both Norfolk and Bristol counties. More recently she has returned to writing. She has published several essays and is awaiting the publication of a short story.
Indra Canagaratna
Junior Warden
Indra, her husband Sebastian, and their two children came to the United States from Srl Lanka in 1983. Indra has a B.Sc in Chemistry from the University of Peradeniya, Sri Lanka and M.Sc in Information Science from Loughborough University of Technology, U.K. She served as systems librarian at Ohio Northern University, in Ada, Ohio for 25 years. Indra and Sebastian moved to Topsfield after retirement in 2010.
Indra was a member of the Anglican Church in Sri Lanka and has been a member of the Episcopal Church in the US. Being a lifelong Anglican/Episcopalian, joining Trinity Episcopal was an easy decision. She serves on the Altar Guild, Technology Committee, Outreach Committee, Parish and Community Life Commission, and Memorial Garden Commission. Indra served as a vestry member in 2022 and currently serves as the junior warden.
Marian Craighill
Treasurer
Marian is a cradle Episcopalian, having been raised a fourth generation missionary in Japan, with one grandfather the Episcopal bishop of Anchang Province in China and the other a missionary doctor in Turkey. Her father was a specialist in church music. When her family came to the US, she and her siblings were enrolled in the local Episcopal church children’s choir where Marian learned to love singing in a choir.
When settling in Boxford after completing her MD degree and practicing in Boston, she and her husband Charley found Trinity at a very difficult time, having lost a late pregnancy. They found solace and much warmth and kindness at Trinity and made it their home, joining the choir and raising 3 sons in the church. Marian and Charley parted ways when she came to the realization that she was a lesbian, but the family still took communion together every Sunday at the rail.
Her kids are now grown, successful and doing their own things. Marian finds joy every Sunday at Trinity. She enjoys singing, taking voice lessons with Laura, and pushing her capabilities doing something she has enjoyed all her life. Marian now serves as Trinity’s treasurer.
Bruce Gaboriault
Assistant Treasurer
Bruce was brought up in Middleton, MA attending St. Agnes Church as a young boy. He graduated from Masconomet in 1962, attended Northeastern University and married Janice McCoy from Beverly, MA in 1965 at St. Peter’s Episcopal Church. Together they bought a house in Topsfield in 1970, right next door to former Rector Woody Silvius and his wife Jean on Washington St. and have attended Trinity Topsfield ever since. Bruce and Jan have 3 adult sons and 2 grandchildren who live in Massachusetts.
Bruce spent 30 years as a service manager at Teradyne, Inc. and then became a software consultant for Xerox for 10 years. Bruce has served as assistant treasurer at Trinity since 2008 following his retirement, and has worn many hats over decades. If Bruce is not at the church crunching numbers or helping out, he can be found on a golf course.
Pam Messenger
Clerk
Pam is a cradle Episcopalian who grew up attending Trinity Topsfield, and graduated in the same high school class as our rector and senior warden. She is now serving in her fourth term on the vestry, having served under four different rectors! Except for her college years and a 12-year stint living in Boston, she has been a lifelong active Trinity parishioner, was confirmed and married here, taught Christian formation, and still sings in the choir.
Pam is President of Friends of Post Office Square in Boston, serves as the Chair of the Downtown Boston Business Improvement District, and is on the board of Friends of Salem Common and several other community non-profits. She is an advocate for open space, urban parks and sustainable development, a believer in public service, the arts, beautiful gardens, and good food. Pam and Ben live in Boxford and have two superstar adult daughters and a very fluffy Siberian Husky.
Paul Aldridge
Vestry Member
Paul was born and raised in northern California. He served as an engineer in the United States Coast Guard. He has BS, MS & Ph.D. degrees in chemistry completing his graduate studies at the University of Washington in Seattle, WA. Paul has served in various scientific and executive roles in Pharma and Life Science companies over a 30 year career. Recently retired, Paul oversees the technical systems of the church and is also the producer of Trinity’s YouTube broadcasts.
Paul is married to his wife Denise of 35 yrs, and they have two grown children. Paul was baptized in the Catholic church. After a gap of several decades, Paul and Denise joined Saint David’s Episcopal Church in Gales Ferry CT when their children were little. After relocating to Boxford in 2003, they joined Trinity Church Topsfield. Paul has previously served as senior warden, junior warden, and vestry member.
Rev. Barbara Stowe
Vestry Member
After moving to Topsfield in 1967, Barbara’s first stop was at Trinity Church. Since then, other than time away for training and ministry as an ordained deacon in the Diocese of Massachusetts, Trinity has been her spiritual home. Throughout the years she and her husband Dick, a priest in the diocese, and their four children have enjoyed worshipping and participating in church life at Trinity. Among her past parish involvement activities are the development and coordination of the BeFriender Ministry and the Lay Eucharistic Visitors. Currently she is a member of Trinity’s Pastoral Care Team. Drawing on her life experience, and her professional experiences as a Registered Nurse, Rehabilitation Counselor and Coordinator of Volunteers at Brigham and Woman’s Hospital, Barbara hopes to contribute as a first-time member of the vestry to Trinity Church’s ministry, mission, and vision as a welcoming community. As an active member of the Topsfield community, she enjoys walking, reading and many friendships, plus she loves animals especially mini dachshunds.
Marcia Clark
Vestry Member
Marcia first started attending Trinity in 1964 when she moved to Boxford from Saugus. While in high school, she sang in the choir and joined the youth group. Except for a brief time in the 70’s, she has attended Trinity for more than 50 years. During that time she has taught Sunday School and was the Trinity coordinator for the ecumenical summer Bible school. She also helped Rev. Cynthia Hubbard with the high school youth group. She has been involved with the Women's Guild, choir, church fair, outreach, vestry, and the Altar Guild. During COVID, she learned how to host Zoom worship services. Her son and daughter were baptized and confirmed at Trinity. Her daughter, Sarah, was the last of the 9 babies born within a ten month period at Trinity, beginning in March of 1979. Sarah still remains in contact with some of the others. This past November, Marcia’s grandson Liam was the newest family member to be baptized at Trinity. Trinity has always held an important place in her life and the lives of her family. When Marcia is away, returning to Trinity has always seemed like coming home.
Ruth Ann Hutchinson
Vestry Member
Ruth Ann was raised in NJ and attended a Methodist church where she was baptized, confirmed, and sang in the church choir beginning at age 8. Her dad practiced the Buddhist faith and taught her the importance of being a caring, helpful, loving person.
Boxford has been her home for 47 years. She is a retired language based/behaviorist special education teacher. Ruth Ann has two grown, married daughters and five grandkids. Ruth Ann cared for her husband Barry until his death in 2020.
Ruth Ann joined Trinity during zoom worship and the pandemic. She is an avid gardener, and takes piano and tai chi lessons. At Trinity she sings in the choir, tends after the cutting garden, helps with Vacation Bible school, and serves as a member of the Parish and Community Life Commision. Ruth Ann is new to the Vestry, the Grounds and Building Committee, and the Memorial Garden. Her prayer is for God’s guidance in this chapter of life.
Mark Young
Vestry Member
Mark Young was married to Joan Young at Trinity Church in 1997. Their family is now made up of 2 daughters, two sons, and 7 grandchildren. Mark has been involved most recently serving on the Rector Search Committee, and on the Building and Grounds group. He’s had prior experience serving on Trinity’s vestry and has been an active member of the Men’s group for years.
Mark attended Yale as an undergrad and earned his JD at Boston College School of Law. He has held various positions including Assistant Attorney General for the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, Head Coach for Yale University’s Women’s Cross Country and Track and Field, Director of Men’s and Women’s Cross Country and Track and Field at Yale, and Assistant Coach for the US Olympic Track and Field Team in 2000. Mark and Joan reside in Topsfield.
Kirk Larsen
Vestry Member
Kirk, along with his wife Alicia, and their children, Sammy and Karina, began attending Trinity Church in 2023 after moving up from Medford. A native of the Chicago area, Kirk has been living in New England for 25 year and considers himself as close to a local as you can get without having been born here. In his free time, he enjoys swimming, reading, and cheering on his kids at their various theatrical performances and sporting events. Kirk attended Purdue University and the Suffolk University School of Law. He has spent his professional career in healthcare, working in a variety of roles including project manager and data analyst. Kirk and his family reside in Middleton.
Gregory Harrison
Vestry Member
Gregory and his family moved to Topsfield in 2021. After their first visit to Trinity the family unanimously decided to become members. Gregory joined the Episcopal Church in 2000. He is married to his favorite person, Lauren, who he met in college. They have two incredible boys, Silas and Ezra. Gregory works as an executive coach and organizational development consultant. Previously he worked in the international development and relief sector. He began his career in education, teaching at Tibet University in Lhasa and the Tibet Minorities University in Shaanxi, China, where he and Lauren lived for five years. He hols a Masters in Sustainable International Development from Heller School at Brandeis University, an MA in Teaching and a BA in Psychology and Religion.
Meredith Bollinger
Vestry Member
Meredith joined the vestry in February 2024. She attended Dartmouth College where she received her BA in Psychology in 2002 and went on to get her Masters in Clinical Social Work from Simmons College on 2006. That same year she married her college sweetheart Ben, and they started attending St. Paul's Episcopal Church, where she was received as an Episcopalian and served on the vestry for 5 years. She moved to Massachusetts in 2011 and has been attending services at Trinity since that time, and recently started assisting in the Atrium. Outside of Trinity, Meredith is a psychotherapist in private practice. She is a Cub Scout leader where she gets to share her passion for the outdoors, service, and Scouting with some equally passionate kids. Meredith lives in Topsfield with her husband Ben and their children Noah and Abigail, her cat Willa, and four (!) guinea pigs.