Meet our team

The Rev. Don Hamer

Priest Associate

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Eugenia Sullivan

Minister of Music

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Dawn Hardwick

Parish Administrator

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Christal Player

Nursery Attendant

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Clergy - In Transition

Visit our Clergy Transition page to learn more about our search.

Learn more about our transition

Gail Lebert

Senior Warden
" My husband and I have attended St. James' for 40 years. I am a retired publisher and currently work part time as a Consultant to ECCT. I love the St. James' community because of all of the different generations. I am a lay preacher and am engaged in marketing and communications committee. I love to travel, ballroom dancing, and the beach. For me, God is especially with me in my quiet time each morning. “
Don Gardner

Junior Warden
Ministry: Building & Property
“The Worship Committee is where my ministry at St. James’ began. As a“ Preacher’s Kid”, I grew up with an interest in worship. As the years went on, I became the “Minister of Illumination”. My career was in Safety, and so I took on the ministry of property. I feel God’s presence in worship, in the walls of the church, and outside in nature.”
Bob Dugger

Treasurer
“ I am Bob Dugger, Treasurer. My “day job” involves Financial Planning, I enjoy managing the church finances, and all the complexities that are entailed in running the church. My children were raised at St. James’, and now my wife and I have grandparenting duties, and our grandchildren have been baptized there too. I really enjoy sharing God’s love as I welcome people into church and get to know them better. “
Joyce Reynolds

Clerk
“Hello, my name is Joyce Reynolds. I joined St. James' in 1991 and presently serving on the Vestry as Parish Clerk for a third term. Prior to that, I served as Assistant Treasurer for 5 years. Most of my career was spent in Human Resources Management where I founded and ran a successful consulting business for 23 years. I love spending time outdoors appreciating the beauty of nature and witnessing God's presence wherever I look. When I am not on the golf course or tennis court, you can find me in my yard gardening. I also have the privilege of designing flowers for the St. James' altar every 4th Sunday to honor God and inspire parishioners in their worship. “
Valerie Huestis

Assistant Treasurer,
Ministries: Stewardship, Engaging the Community
"I have been a member of St. James' since 2019. Prior to joining the parish, I attended St. Mary's in Manchester for over 25 years. I am retired, having worked at The Travelers and Pratt & Whitney in various financial positions. I love the willingness at St. James' to listen to different ideas and embrace new ministries. Besides being Assistant Treasurer, I am on the finance and outreach committees, sing in the choir, assist the Minister of Music with our Celtic Vespers services and receptions, and coordinate our Engaging the Community ministry, a newer ministry which invites the residents of Glastonbury and surrounding communities to St. James' for a variety of presentations/functions e.g. estate planning, wildlife gardening, downsizing, Reiki, etc."
Marie Dixon

Vestry
Ministries: Food Pantry, Carol’s Closet
Class of 2025
.” My husband and have been members of St. James' since 2005. Outreach is my passion. I brought together a team in 2014 who created a paper pantry known as Carol's Closet. It opened in September 2015 and has been going strong ever since. I serve as a coordinator of the Food Ministry Program and lead the Care Letter Writing Committee. This place is important to me since this is where I feel God's spirit at work through and with us.”
Susan Wright

Vestry
Minisrties: Lunch in the Park, Newcomers
Class of 2025
“My name is Susan Wright, and I have been a devoted member of St. James’ for 34 years, where I have found not just a church, but a true sense of home. I work as a math tutor in an elementary school and also teach summer school in our district, which allows me to support students year-round. I am also involved in service through Newcomers and Outreach, which has given me meaningful opportunities to welcome others and support those in need within our community. My faith is woven into my everyday life, and I see God just about everywhere—most especially in moments shared with my family. The parish community at St. James’ continually lifts me up and fills me spiritually, and I am deeply grateful for the sense of connection, support, and belonging that defines our parish family.”
Mitch Chester

Vestry
Ministry: Church School (Kids)
Class of 2026
“ I have been attending St. James since the late 1990s and have been teaching Sunday school here for ~ 20 years. I have five (5) children the youngest of which are college age. I am a Licensed Environmental Professional and a real estate agent. I like helping people and enjoy out door activities.”
Mary Pramberger

Vestry
Ministry: Social Media
Class of 2026
I am member of the parish flower guild and social media team. My family and I were welcomed to St. James with open arms after the birth of our youngest daughter in 2014. I am a pediatric surgical nurse and a local cheerleading coach, deeply involved with youth in our community through my daughter’s school and sports programs. I have recently taken on the ministry for SocialMedia for St. James’ ‘ St. James is where my faith feels alive and my community feels like family—a place where I’m reminded of grace, feel a true sense of belonging, and see love in action.”
Cheryl Turner

Vestry
Ministries: Outreach, Newcomers
Class of 2027
“My husband and I have worshiped at St James for over 30 years, raising our now two adult children in this community. I am a Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner, and have long realized that individuals suffer from trauma and loss in every setting. We love and value the community and a welcoming spirit at St James. For me, I feel God's presence when His people come together. I have served in many ways, most recently as leader of the Outreach Committee. “
Tom Doolittle

Vestry
Class of 2028
“I am a retired psychologist and HR executive. When my wife Lynne and I moved to Glastonbury, we found St. James to be a warm, welcoming and deeply spiritual place and were immediately drawn to it. We’ve lived all over and our four children and their families are scattered across the country, but St. James is our spiritual center point, anchored by the experience of God’s presence in our lives here. I serve as a reader.”
Lisa Gleason

Vestry
Ministry: Carol’s Closet
Class of 2028
My two boys (who are now men in their 20s) grew up at St. James’. I am currently a Lead Director at Aetna, where I have spent 32 years of my career. I work on and manage internal projects related to our provider networks. My favorite thing about St James’ is our community and how we come together to get things done! I enjoy helping others in a variety of ways, initially I served as a member of the Outreach Committee. Recently, I became the leader of Carol’s Closet Paper Pantry, which distributes paper products to residents of Glastonbury in need. I also am a lay reader and Vestry member. “

Our Vestry

The Vestry is the lay leadership of the church made up of 10 elected volunteer parishioners. They are the legal representatives and agents of the parish, charged with specific responsibilities by the canons of the Episcopal Church. They share leadership responsibilities with the Priest-in-Charge. Their duties are described as: Discernment of God's call, Identification of new leaders, Stewardship and development of resources, and special duties when a congregation is without a rector.

Officers of the Vestry are composed of a Senior Warden, a Junior Warden, a Clerk, Treasurer and Assistant Treasurer. The members and officers of the Vestry are elected in January at the annual Parish meeting by eligible voting members of the parish. The Wardens, Clerk, Treasurer and Assistant Treasurer all hold office for one year. Non-officer members of the Vestry are elected to serve for three years.

This part of the page is a work in progress to add St. James’ Ministry Leaders. Thank you for your patience during construction! Please contact the Church Office with questions and ideas for the website.

Lay Leadership is a strong part of the St. James' community's faithful call to serve God. While our Vestry members are the canonical leadership, they each serve in many ministries as well. The Lay Leaders listed below shepherd the many activities that make our community a vibrant place to be. There is a sweet, sweet spirit in this place.

Ministry Leaders

Current Ministries: Christian Formation (Youth); Men’s Club

Dan Aramini

Dan joined St. James’ in 2002 with his family. He is a retired Budget Analyst (SNET/SBC/ATT). Dan has held many roles at St. James’ and loves the tasks he now handles. He is a talented photographer and videographer who is always taking photos of activities at St. James’. He coordinates our legendary Men’s Club gatherings and dinners. Most importantly, he works extensively with our teenage parishioners. As a preacher, Dan tries to connect the obscure and commonplace elements of our faith with action-oriented considerations. Dan volunteers for Williams College, Heads Up Hartford, and Read to a Child. Hobbies include soccer, pottery, harmonic overtone singing, and playing cribbage with his daughter Caroline (who lets him win sometimes).

Carl Benker

Current Ministry: Ushers

Jeannette Brown

Current Ministries: Blood Drive; Coffee Hour; Shawl Ministry

Libby Campbell

Current Ministries: Meditation (Holy Well); Newcomers

Libby arrived at St. James Glastonbury in 2022, having spent the previous 36 very active years in a variety of ministries at St. John’s in Canandaigua, NY where, after being part of a discernment committee was led to the Shalem Institute for Spiritual Formation program for Spiritual Direction in 2010. Always paying attention to where Spirit leads, she became a Spiritual Director, group discernment, and meditation leader, Reiki Master. Raised in Drexel Hill, PA, her early life found her at Moore College of Art in Philadelphia and the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts studying the classical arts and portraiture. She got off of the art track while raising her three daughters and working as an administrative assistant but found a rich life within the Episcopal church that has brought her here with a grateful open heart and mind and an awareness of God’s all-embracing love as seen in the warm welcome and active ministries found here at St. James Glastonbury. Please keep an eye on this website as I will share bits of wisdom and guidance that have come to me in a section called Holywell, a figurative place of depth, healing and restorative peace.

Cheri Cooper

Current Ministry: Altar Guild

Cherie is a life-long member of St. James’ having been baptized, confirmed, and married in this church. Following in the footsteps of her mother, Shirley Fuller, and grandmother, Celia Fuller, Cherie has served on the Altar Guild for 40 years. She has also sung in the choir, taught Sunday School, and been part of the Finance Committee and Shawl Ministry. Cherie worked as an elementary teacher at both Eastbury and Hopewell Schools in Glastonbury for 30 years. Since her retirement, she has enjoyed traveling to Ireland, England, and Italy as well as participating in book club discussions and the challenge of playing Mahjong. Cherie’s favorite pastime is spending time with her daughter, two sons, their spouses, and her 7 grandchildren. St. James’ Church and its community of caring people will always hold a special place in her heart.

Looking for a spiritual home in 2010, Janice found St. James’ and was happily plunged into helping with the Spring Fling. In tandem with many generous and enthusiastic parishioners, Janice has offered to contribute wherever needed, She joined the choir and finds plenty of use for her professional marketing and computer graphics skills. She provided catalogues for several Art in the Abbey extravaganzas. Together with a beautiful team of passionate and talented folks, she organized a Christmas Tea, and has participated in several subsequent Teas in various capacities. She is currently helping to revamp St. James’ website. Some hobbies are Mahjong, drawing, learning history, working out, day trips to some of the sweet little towns in New England, and walking most days with her husband, Joe.

Janice Davis

Clint Dixon

Current Ministry: Christian Formation (Adults)

Joan and I joined St. James’ in 1974. Both our sons were baptized and raised in St. James’. Joan was the head of Sunday School for about 5 years and I taught 5 grade Sunday School for about 10 years. I was Senior Warden for 6 years during the major renovation of St. James’. We have seen St. James’ grow until we needed 2 priests and then saw St. James’ decrease until we could not afford 1 priest. We are most happy today that we are getting young families and children back into our Church. Until I retired from Pratt & Whitney, I never cooked anything. Now I enjoy cooking and currently am the cook for St. James’ Men’s Club. Dan Aramini and Mitch Chester do the hard work of scheduling and clean up for the Men’s Club. We feel the Men’s Club is an important addition to worship and fellowship of St. James’. In particular, many of the jobs that keep the physical plant of St. James’ working are undertaken by many members of the Men’s Club , but the important part of Men’s Club is the fellowship among the men of St. James’.

Current Ministries: St James’ Website; Choir

Caryl Donovan

Current Ministry: Flower Guild

I grew up in East Hartford, oldest of 8 children. We were very involved in Hartford’s Christ Church Cathedral. I was a member of their girls choir, GFS and youth group. I met my husband to be when we were in the church nursery. We started dating in Junior High. In 1961 I went to Hartford Hospital School of Nursing. I was president of my class. Bob and I married in 1964. I was a pediatric nurse at Hartford Hospital. When Bob finished school, the Navy enlisted him and we moved to Norfolk, VA. After the Navy, we moved to Glastonbury in 1970. We had 2 daughters and a son, and joined St James’ in 1972. We ran the children’s worship service for 3-5 yr olds for a few years. I was on the Vestry and Bob was on the finance committee. I also served as secretary of the Hartford Deanery. Presently we both are board members representing St James’ for Naubuc Green and I am chairperson for the flower committee. Love being part of this wonderful church.

Janet Donston

Current Ministries: Pastoral Care; Choir, Outreach; Altar Guild

Rick Edwards

Current Ministry: Finances

Rick joined St. James; in the md 1990’s. He is presently retired after working 28 years at Aetna Life and Casualty and 14 years at MassMutual Insurance Company in various managerial and information technology financial positions. He was the Assistant Treasurer at St. James’ for 6 years, a vestry member for three years, and has been the head of the Financial Committee for the least 10 years. Over the last year, he has been working several hours a week at St. James’ assuring bills are appropriately being paid and church income properly recorded. During this same time, Rick has been actively involved in the drafting and signing of a 5-year lease with the Children’s House on Montessori on Main and subsequent cleanup of the church basement in preparation for the school’s opening this Fall. Rick enjoyed playing baseball, softball and basketball in his younger years and presently enjoys watching sports and reading.

Fred Faulkner

Current Ministry: Sermons

Ed Crow

Current Ministry: Men’s Club

Pat Goodrich

Current Ministries: Altar Guild, Shawl Ministry

Debbie Hamer

Current Ministry: Lunch in the Park

John Korber

Current Ministry: Video Streaming

Having attended St. James’ in his youth, John is grateful to give back to the parish community where he and his wife are now raising their family. Applying his expertise in technology and operations to support the church's digital initiatives—from launching live-streamed worship during the COVID-19 pandemic, to modernizing collection processing, to developing ongoing strategies that expand St. James' online connection, John gets his hands in all sorts of projects. John's hobbies are limited to listening to his kids' musical preferences while driving them to and from their myriad activities.