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.

The Reverend Melissa Howell, Rector

Melissa received her Master of Divinity from the School of Theology at the University of the South in May 2020.  She was ordained to the priesthood in January 2021 by Bishop Harris at Grace Church.  Her previous degrees are from Boston University:  BA in Hispanic Language and Literature and BS in Modern Foreign Language Education, both in 2003. 

Between 2003 and 2018, Melissa served in many different positions:

  • Spanish teacher:  Cambridgeport School and King School and Barnstable High School
  • Clinical Research Coordinator:  Massachusetts General Hospital Department of Emergency Medicine
  • Program Manager:  Massachusetts General Hospital Center for Neurologic Emergencies
  • Chaplain Intern:  Brigham and Women’s Hospital
  • Hospice Volunteer:  Care Dimensions

Melissa brings us a wealth of experience in service to others.  Her history shows a path that increasing movement toward God and a life of parish ministry. 

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 and a son Stephen.

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 Langille is the conductor of the Tutti Music Collective, which is dedicated to supporting music-making that reflects the communities it operates in, particularly underrepresented groups in classical music. In addition, he is the Assistant/Cover Conductor of the Evenings Under the Stars Orchestra in Hingham, Massachusetts, providing engaging and innovative programming for summertime audiences. Elijah frequently travels to Germany and the Czech Republic to study with notable conductors, conducting the Moravian Philharmonic in 2019 and 2020 and the Hradec Králové Philharmonic Orchestra in 2023.
Elijah is also an avid educator and conductor throughout Massachusetts, currently Program Director and Principal Conductor of the South Shore Conservatory Youth Orchestras and directing the Orchestra program at Barnstable High School. He graduated from Gordon College and Boston University, where he focused on the consequences of power and oppression within the orchestra. His research identified proactive ways of including learners of all abilities, backgrounds, and cultures within a praxial music classroom.
Elijah sang 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 and Keith Lockhart and is the organist of Christ Church Parish, Plymouth, Massachusetts.
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 2024

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

John Steele

Clerk

Brenna Buckley

Treasurer

Ray Rogers

Wil Bernard

Barb Hurney

Kat Libretto

Judy Lutz

Makenzie Manchester

Becky Metzger

Amanda Peterson

Jack Willett