The Rev. Todd FitzGerald
The Reverend Todd FitzGerald began his ministry as St. John’s priest in charge in August 2021, and was called as rector in May 2024. After growing up in Louisiana and attending college in Texas, Todd studied for the ordained ministry at Seabury-Western Theological Seminary on the north shore of Chicago. Upon completing divinity school, he and his wife Amy returned to Texas, where he served in a large downtown parish in Austin. Feeling a call to share the Gospel outside the traditional parish setting, Todd went on to serve as chaplain at an Episcopal day school in Austin, and two Episcopal boarding schools, one in Maryland and one back in Austin. In his chaplain role, he led worship, did pastoral care, developed programs, taught history and religion classes, and developed his leadership and management skills. Todd’s real passion is ministry among disciples of Jesus, and he is extremely excited to work alongside the people of St. John’s parish as we worship God, form disciples of Jesus, and share Christ’s love with each other and our neighbors. Todd and Amy have two daughters. The Rev. Margie Baker
Margie began her ordained ministry at St. John’s in 2019 after a career in public education. While studying at Virginia Theological Seminary, Margie served as seminarian intern at St. Columba Episcopal Church in Washington, DC. She has a passion for preaching and teaching. In her free time, Margie enjoys running, reading, and spending time (especially outdoors) with her wife and two children. In addition to preaching; providing pastoral care; and helping to plan and oversee worship and ministries, Margie has primary responsibility for programs and education for children and youth. The Reverend Walter McKenney
The Reverend Walter McKenney was ordained a deacon in 1999 by Bishop Coleridge at Christ Church Cathedral, Hartford. He has served as deacon at churches in Hartford, East Hartford, Bolton, and Glastonbury, joining us at St. John’s in June 2016. Walter’s work experience consists of 30 years as a firefighter/arson investigator with the City of Hartford. He was also a community advisor at Episcopal Metropolitan Mission. When he approached retirement, he began his discernment at Hartford Seminary through the Black Ministry Program and the Ministry Exploration and Education Program (MEEP), and felt called to ordained ministry as a deacon. His continuing education has been at Yale Divinity School and the General Theological Seminary of the Episcopal Church. Walter lives in West Hartford, and loves walking the 4.5 mile loop at the local reservoir, reading and surfing the ‘net. He has four children, ten grandchildren and five great grandchildren Ellen Dollar
Ellen oversees St. John’s operations and day-to-day administration, including producing Sunday bulletins, e-newsletters, web site updates, and other communications and publicity material; managing membership records and volunteer schedules; managing the facility schedule; collaborating on program planning and management with clergy and staff; and handling calls, visits and inquiries.
As St. John’s sexton/property manager, Dwight coordinates use of our facilities by St. John’s and outside groups, oversees all building and grounds maintenance and repairs, and assists with events. He also owns and manages the Tangiers International Market with several family members — a favorite local spot for Middle Eastern prepared food and groceries. Walden Moore
R. Walden Moore was director of music of Trinity Church, New Haven, from 1984 until his retirement in June 2024. He previously served as organist and choirmaster of St. James’s Church in West Hartford, CT, 1980-1984. At Trinity, he directed the Choir of Adults and Girls, the Choir of Men and Boys, and the Parish Choir of mixed adult voices in a regular schedule of parish services and appearances both inside and outside the parish. He serves as clinician, guest conductor, and organist for choir festivals and church choir clinics throughout the year. His degrees in organ are from the University of Kentucky, Lexington, and from the Yale Institute of Sacred Music/School of Music, where he studied with Robert Baker and Gerre Hancock. In January of 2007, he was appointed adjunct lecturer in organ at the Yale Institute of Sacred Music/School of Music, where, one semester each year, he continues to co-teach a course in liturgical keyboard skills with colleague Mark Miller. He is past chair of the Music Commission of the Episcopal Diocese of Connecticut, has served on the executive board of the Connecticut Chapter of the American Choral Directors Association, and currently serves on the advisory board for the Gerre Hancock Organ Scholarship for the Association of Anglican Musicians. He has also served as organ design consultant for churches throughout Connecticut. In recent years, he has been music director for Royal School of Church Music in America Summer Courses in Charlotte, NC, Wilkes-Barre, PA, Newport, RI, Boston, MA, Houston and Dallas TX. After retirement from Trinity at the end of June 2024, besides serving as interim director of music at St. John’s, he will continue to teach at Yale, and to present service-playing and choral workshops from time to time. Peggy O’Toole
As the financial administrator who joined St. John’s in May 2017, Peggy maintains the parish financial records, pays the bills, processes payroll, and works with the parish manager to oversee the office and welcome people to St. John’s.
The Reverend Todd FitzGerald began his ministry as St. John’s priest in charge in August 2021, and was called as rector in May 2024. After growing up in Louisiana and attending college in Texas, Todd studied for the ordained ministry at Seabury-Western Theological Seminary on the north shore of Chicago. Upon completing divinity school, he and his wife Amy returned to Texas, where he served in a large downtown parish in Austin. Feeling a call to share the Gospel outside the traditional parish setting, Todd went on to serve as chaplain at an Episcopal day school in Austin, and two Episcopal boarding schools, one in Maryland and one back in Austin. In his chaplain role, he led worship, did pastoral care, developed programs, taught history and religion classes, and developed his leadership and management skills. Todd’s real passion is ministry among disciples of Jesus, and he is extremely excited to work alongside the people of St. John’s parish as we worship God, form disciples of Jesus, and share Christ’s love with each other and our neighbors. Todd and Amy have two daughters. The Rev. Margie Baker
Margie began her ordained ministry at St. John’s in 2019 after a career in public education. While studying at Virginia Theological Seminary, Margie served as seminarian intern at St. Columba Episcopal Church in Washington, DC. She has a passion for preaching and teaching. In her free time, Margie enjoys running, reading, and spending time (especially outdoors) with her wife and two children. In addition to preaching; providing pastoral care; and helping to plan and oversee worship and ministries, Margie has primary responsibility for programs and education for children and youth. The Reverend Walter McKenney
The Reverend Walter McKenney was ordained a deacon in 1999 by Bishop Coleridge at Christ Church Cathedral, Hartford. He has served as deacon at churches in Hartford, East Hartford, Bolton, and Glastonbury, joining us at St. John’s in June 2016. Walter’s work experience consists of 30 years as a firefighter/arson investigator with the City of Hartford. He was also a community advisor at Episcopal Metropolitan Mission. When he approached retirement, he began his discernment at Hartford Seminary through the Black Ministry Program and the Ministry Exploration and Education Program (MEEP), and felt called to ordained ministry as a deacon. His continuing education has been at Yale Divinity School and the General Theological Seminary of the Episcopal Church. Walter lives in West Hartford, and loves walking the 4.5 mile loop at the local reservoir, reading and surfing the ‘net. He has four children, ten grandchildren and five great grandchildren Ellen Dollar
Ellen oversees St. John’s operations and day-to-day administration, including producing Sunday bulletins, e-newsletters, web site updates, and other communications and publicity material; managing membership records and volunteer schedules; managing the facility schedule; collaborating on program planning and management with clergy and staff; and handling calls, visits and inquiries.
After graduating from the College of William and Mary with a degree in history and religion, Ellen worked in nonprofit communications in Washington, D.C., for 10 years. She then spent 17 years raising three children while also doing freelance editing and writing on faith, family, disability and ethics. She wrote for publications including the Christian Century; Sojourners; Christianity Today; Huffington Post; Brain, Child magazine; On Faith; and the New York Times parenting blog. She is also author of No Easy Choice: A Story of Disability, Parenthood and Faith in an Age of Advanced Reproduction (Westminster John Knox 2012). As a member of St. James’s Episcopal Church in West Hartford, Ellen enjoys being a part of two vibrant Episcopal faith communities.
Dwight LatifAs St. John’s sexton/property manager, Dwight coordinates use of our facilities by St. John’s and outside groups, oversees all building and grounds maintenance and repairs, and assists with events. He also owns and manages the Tangiers International Market with several family members — a favorite local spot for Middle Eastern prepared food and groceries. Walden Moore
R. Walden Moore was director of music of Trinity Church, New Haven, from 1984 until his retirement in June 2024. He previously served as organist and choirmaster of St. James’s Church in West Hartford, CT, 1980-1984. At Trinity, he directed the Choir of Adults and Girls, the Choir of Men and Boys, and the Parish Choir of mixed adult voices in a regular schedule of parish services and appearances both inside and outside the parish. He serves as clinician, guest conductor, and organist for choir festivals and church choir clinics throughout the year. His degrees in organ are from the University of Kentucky, Lexington, and from the Yale Institute of Sacred Music/School of Music, where he studied with Robert Baker and Gerre Hancock. In January of 2007, he was appointed adjunct lecturer in organ at the Yale Institute of Sacred Music/School of Music, where, one semester each year, he continues to co-teach a course in liturgical keyboard skills with colleague Mark Miller. He is past chair of the Music Commission of the Episcopal Diocese of Connecticut, has served on the executive board of the Connecticut Chapter of the American Choral Directors Association, and currently serves on the advisory board for the Gerre Hancock Organ Scholarship for the Association of Anglican Musicians. He has also served as organ design consultant for churches throughout Connecticut. In recent years, he has been music director for Royal School of Church Music in America Summer Courses in Charlotte, NC, Wilkes-Barre, PA, Newport, RI, Boston, MA, Houston and Dallas TX. After retirement from Trinity at the end of June 2024, besides serving as interim director of music at St. John’s, he will continue to teach at Yale, and to present service-playing and choral workshops from time to time. Peggy O’Toole
As the financial administrator who joined St. John’s in May 2017, Peggy maintains the parish financial records, pays the bills, processes payroll, and works with the parish manager to oversee the office and welcome people to St. John’s.
Peggy loves to travel; shortly before she started working at St. John’s, Peggy and her husband Jim returned from a three-year “road trip.” They are now settled down in Bloomfield and glad to be back living close to families and friends. Peggy and Jim have two adult sons, Michael, who lives in LA, and Kevin, who lives in Boston. Peggy comes from a very musical family, and music is a big part of her life. She also enjoys exercise, golf, tennis and cooking. Peggy has worked in finance for her entire professional life, in both the nonprofit and for-profit areas.