Clergy & Staff

The Reverend Geoff Chapman, Incumbent priest, St. Matthew's Anglican Church, Ottawa, ONThe Reverend Geoff Chapman – Incumbent priest

Reverend Geoff is the Incumbent priest at St. Matthew's. 
 
He grew up in London, Ontario and studied music (B.Mus, Horn Performance) at Western University. He then spent five years in the United States doing graduate work at the University of the South and at Yale Divinity School, completing a Master of Divinity and Master of Arts in Religion degrees. He was ordained to the priesthood in the Diocese of Montreal, serving in the Verdun neighbourhood of Montreal and Chateauguay. He moved to the Diocese of Ottawa in 2012 and served as Incumbent of Epiphany Anglican Church, and was delighted to arrive at St. Matthew’s in April 2020.
 
Rev. Geoff is passionate about the church. As a musician, he finds his musical outlet primarily through worship and sacred music. He believes in music that feeds us and is looking forward to participating in St. Matthew’s rich musical tradition. He loves to teach - whether through preaching, leading Bible studies, or having a great conversation over coffee. He arrived at St. Matthew's during the COVID-19 pandemic and is ready to utilize online tools to teach and lead in new ways. 

Rev. Geoff is married to Sarah, who works as a management consultant, and they have a son, Theo and a daughter, Zoe. 

Contact Rev. Geoff at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

After hours pastoral emergency: 613-854-0643

 

 Archbishop Barry Curtis, Honorary Assistant, St. Matthew's Anglican Church, Ottawa, ON
Archbishop J. Barry Curtis - Honorary Assistant

Archbishop Curtis began his ordained ministry in Pembroke, Ontario in 1959 and also served in parishes in Kanata, Buckingham and Westboro before moving to Calgary in 1980. He was elected Bishop of Calgary in 1983, and in 1994 added the responsibilities of Metropolitan of Rupert’s Land. He retired from both positions in 1999.

Prior to his retirement, he also served on a number of national church organizations: as President of the Canadian Council of Churches; as Co-Director of the Anglican Fellowship of Prayer with his late wife, Pat; as Chair of the Partners in Mission Committee; and as Chair of the Inter-Church Inter-Faith Relations Committee. He has also been an active contributor to the Cursillo Movement.

On the secular side, Archbishop Curtis served on the boards of Habitat for Humanity (Canada) and the Calgary Family Service Centre. One of the legacies of his time in Calgary was Daybreak House, a home for refugee women and their children. Barry moved back to Ottawa where he could be closer to three of his four children and seven grandchildren in 2008. At that time, he accepted the position of Honorary Assistant at St Matthew’s Church, where he makes a special contribution to Christian education. His deep knowledge of scripture and his wry sense of humor make the study of scripture fascinating for people of all ages.

Prior to his ordination, Barry served as a naval officer, and after ordination as Chaplain at the Naval Division in Ottawa. He graduated from Trinity College, University of Toronto, and the Theological College at Chichester, Sussex. Barry loves the outdoors and walking his dog and spends time in Victoria with his wife Lois Rumsey.

 

 The Reverent Katie Tait, Honorary Assistant, St. Matthew's Anglican Church, Ottawa, ONThe Reverend Katherine Tait – Honorary Assistant

Prior to Theological studies Katie was an engineer with a consulting engineering company in Calgary. During that time, she took a course in Clinical Pastoral Education and volunteered in hospitals in pastoral and palliative care.

Katie first attended St. Matthew’s on an occasional basis when she lived in Kanata from 1986 to 1988, on the suggestion of a friend. She loved the music and found the congregation welcoming.

She was ordained in 2001-2002 in the Diocese of Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island following theological studies at the Atlantic School of Theology in Halifax. Katie served as Rector of the Parish of Tangier and then as priest-in-charge of the Parish of Ecum Secum, both on the beautiful Eastern Shore of Nova Scotia.

After returning to Ottawa in 2018, she presided at the Eucharist at The Glebe Centre long term care home until COVID-19 interrupted this ministry.

Katie is happy to be serving, and to be part of, the St. Matthew’s community.

 The Reverend Dana Rodgers, Honorary Assistant, St. Matthew's Anglican Church, Ottawa, ONThe Reverend Dana Rodgers, Honorary Assistant

Dana grew up in London, Ontario, and then moved with her family to Regina where she was introduced to the Anglican tradition by attending the Qu’Appelle Diocesan School for Girls, run by the Sisters of St. John the Divine. She returned to Western University, earning a BA in English and History, and then moved to the US for a time where her two children were born. On returning to Toronto, she became the librarian at the St. John’s Convalescent Hospital for several years, and then returned to Wilfred Laurier University for an MSW after which she became Supervisor of Protection for the Children’s Aid Society of Perth County.

The nudging of the Holy Spirit led her to study theology at Huron College and she was ordained in 2000. She served as priest for four years at St. Paul’s Anglican Church in Essex and then another four years at St. Columba in Waterloo. At that time, she retired from active ministry and became an Honorary Assistant at St. John the Evangelist Anglican Church in Elora.

Dana has moved to Ottawa to be closer to her family and is looking forward to sharing her ministry with us. She will co-lead the Pastoral Care Team with the Reverend Katie Tait and is part of the prayer ministry team.

 

 Dr. Robert (Bob) Hall, Interim Director of Music, St. Matthew's Anglican Church, Ottawa, ONDr. Robert Hall – Director of Music

Bob has spent most of his life as a combined academic and church musician, having taught music in five universities before spending twenty-six years teaching at Laurentian University in Sudbury. He retired from Laurentian in 2021 and moved to Ottawa, spending a year as Director of Music at City View United Church. His training includes a Doctorate in Choral Music and a Fellowship in Organ and he also holds degrees in Piano Performance and Voice Performance.

Bob is well-versed in church musical traditions having held positions in Anglican, United Church of Canada and United Methodist churches. His positions at Anglican churches include two years as Director of Music at Christ’s Church Cathedral in Hamilton, Ontario.

He is excited about continuing St. Matthew’s rich musical tradition and aiding in the resumption of a full musical life for St. Matthew’s as we emerge from the pandemic.

 

Catherine James-McGuinty is the Parish Administrator at St. Matthew’s, the Anglican church in the Glebe, Ottawa, ON.Catherine James-McGuinty – Administrator

Catherine is Administrator of the parish. It’s a plain title for a complex job of supporting a host of volunteers as well as the Incumbent, the Honorary Assistants, the Music Director and all the Committee chairs.  Before joining St. Matthew's Catherine worked as a business development consultant. Prior to that role, Catherine spent 15 years in the high-tech sector working in marketing, business development and public affairs. Catherine also has a variety of experience in the non-profit sector including president of her local community association and treasurer of a local riding association.

Last updated: April 12, 2023

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