Any member of the clergy or staff may be contacted through the church
by phone at 215-567-1267, by fax at 215-567-3766,
or by email at office@htrit.org

PASTORAL STAFF

  • The Rev. Alan Neale, Rector
    215-567-1267 ext.20, ajrn316@gmail.com

    Alan Neale was born in London, England. He received his first degree from the London School of Economics, followed by a second degree in Theology from Oxford University. Ordained in Exeter Cathedral, he served in the city-centre church St. Andrew of Plymouth, Devon; The University of Christ Church, Southampton; and St. Andrew, Stanstead Abbots, Hertfordshire. In 1988, with his wife Wendy and three children, he moved to Brookings, South Dakota. After thirteen years as Rector of St. Columba’s Chapel Middletown, Rhode Island, Alan became Rector of Holy Trinity in June, 2004.

  • Marissa Rohrbach, Assistant to the Rector

    Marissa grew up outside of Philadelphia. She received her undergraduate degree in French Language and Literature from The George Washington University in Washington, D.C. After graduation, she moved to New Haven, CT where she earned a Master of Divinity and a Master of Sacred Theology from Yale Divinity School. She also earned a Diploma in Anglican Studies from Berkeley Divinity School at Yale. Her thesis focused on the connections between liturgics, politics, and justice. In her spare time, Marissa loves to cook and travel as well as return to her great love of French literature and poetry.

  • The Rev. Terence C. Roper, Rector Emeritus
    ropertc@aol.com

    Terence Chaus Roper was born June 21, 1935 in Portsmouth, England. He served in Her Majesty’s Royal Air Force from 1954-56, after which he attended King’s College, London from 1958-60. Ordained a deacon in 1960 and a priest in 1961, he served as Curate at St. John, Forton, Gosport, England. He later served as Curate at St. Alban in Arlington, TX from 1963-65. After serving as Curate at St. Thomas in Dallas TX from 1965-67, he became Rector at Our Lady of Grace, in Dallas, Texas, where he served for five years. He then became Rector at Redeemer in Irving, TX, where he served until 1976. He then become Rector of Transfiguration in Dallas TX, where he served until 1999. From Transfiguration he came to Holy Trinity as Rector, where he served until 2004. Terry is retired and resides here in Philadelphia.

  • The Rev. Richard Smiraglia, Missioner Among Gay/Lesbian Community
    rsmiraglia@htrit.org

    A man of many talents, Richard has been a priest in the Diocese of Pennsylvania for eleven years and a professor of information studies (currently at The University of Wisconson, Milwaukee) for 3 decades. He’s a graduate of The General Seminary in New York and of the University of Chicago as well as the school of hard knocks. Richard’s ministry is focused around evangelism to the unchurched in the gay and lesbian community. At CHT he serves as Missioner Among the GLBT Community. In addition to preaching at CHT, Richard is an experienced spiritual director, leader of spiritual retreats, and an occasional columnist on spiritual issues for the Philadelphia Gay News.

  • Ms. Soozung Sa Rankin, Director of Community Development
    215-567-1267 ext.19, srankin@htrit.org

    Soozung has been in ministry for over 20 years in a variety of settings. She has a B.A. in music from Lawrence University, Appleton, WI, and is currently completing her Masters of Theological Studies at Wesley Theological Seminary in Washington, D.C. She lives in Center City with her husband, son, and two dogs, and volunteers with the Junior League of Philadelphia and the PA Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. In her leisure, she enjoys running, cooking, reading and traveling.

  • Noah Van Niel, Parish Intern

    Noah Van Niel joined the Vestry in the winter of 2011 as the Education Chair. Noah and his wife Melinda moved to Philadelphia after graduating from Harvard University three years ago and have been members of the Church of the Holy Trinity there entire time here. Noah serves as an Usher and Reader and enjoys being a part of such a vibrant faith community in the heart of the city. He currently is a Resident Artist at the Academy of Vocal Arts pursuing a degree in Operatic Vocal Performance.

  • Mr. Jay Mitchell, Seminarian On-Site
    (The Lutheran Theological Seminary of Philadelphia)
    215-567-1267

    My name is Jay Mitchell. I am a Middler (2nd year) Seminarian at the Lutheran Theological Seminary at Philadelphia. I am studying for ordained ministry within the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America and concentrating my study in Metropolitan/Urban Ministry. While I am in Candidacy through the New England Synod and have a permanent address in Connecticut, I am proud to call Philadelphia home having finished my undergraduate studies at Temple University.

    I am a self-confessed and entirely unapologetic liturgigeek. I love liturgy and everything that goes into it. Above all I believe and teach that when we gather together as the beloved children of God we see the incarnate Christ in our midst; not just in the Eucharist but in one another. It is the very assembly of God’s people that shows us the face of God. To that end, I am very interested in worship our God with you and serving the Lord beside you as we journey together.

    My preaching interests revolved around the inexpressible, inexhaustible love, grace, and mercy of God in the person of Jesus Christ. I preach, teach, and encourage the unexplainable and unbounded welcome God provides within the community of God’s people. “The sparrow has found a place and the swallow has made a nest by the side of your altar, O Lord of Hosts,” says Psalm 84. We have a safe and welcome place at the table of the Lord. I pride myself on not being mundane in my preaching, and look forward to proclaiming the Gospel among you all.

    I will be with you all for about 10 hours per week and cannot wait for us to explore our faith together! I am humbled and very grateful to be journeying with CHT this academic year as your seminarian. CHT’s unique offerings, ministries and outreach excite me very much and I cannot wait to learn even more about them in the months to come. I look forward to meeting as many of you as possible (although please give me a few meetings before I remember your name) as I participate in church life with you at CHT and as I serve the Lord outside of the church building as a fellow worker in Christ’s name.

STAFF

  • Dr. John H. French, Organist/Choirmaster
    215-567-1267 ext.21, jfrench@ursinus.edu

    John French, organist/choirmaster at The Church of the Holy Trinity since 1992, has been active as a church musician for over thirty-five years. Dr. French is the William F. Heefner Professor of Music at Ursinus College. He has received the Laughlin Professional Achievement Award and Lindback Award for Distinguished Teaching from the college in recognition of his professional and scholarly accomplishments. Dr. French is also the associate conductor of the Mendelssohn Club Chorus of Philadelphia. Dr. French has degrees from the Philadelphia College of the Performing Arts, Westminster Choir College and the College-Conservatory of Music of the University of Cincinnati. In addition to other grants and awards he has received two fellowships from the National Endowment for the Humanities.

  • Benjamin Leiby, Assistant Organist

    Ben has been a member of Holy Trinity and the Holy Trinity choir since 2001 and was named Assistant Organist in 2006. Prior to coming to Holy Trinity, he was a member of the choir and an assisting organist at St. Stephen’s Cathedral in Harrisburg, PA. From 2000-2006, he served as accompanist to the Susquehanna Chorale, a chamber choir based in Hershey, PA. He holds a PhD in Biostatistics from the U of Pennsylvania and is a member of the faculty of Thomas Jefferson University.

  • Amy Addou, Parish Administrator
    215-567-1267 ext.10, office@htrit.org

    If you haven’t noticed her slight accent by now, Amy Addou (pronounced A-dew) is originally from Baltimore, Maryland and has been living in Center City, Philadelphia since 2005. Amy has been with the Church of the Holy Trinity since 2005. She is currently studying Communications and Applied Techology at Drexel University. Ms. Addou is a Member, Volunteer and an Advocate for the American Diabetes Association. Amy loves life to the fullest and you’ll see that this love radiates through her friendly personality and generous smile! From our April, 2009 issue of CH@T monthly newsletter Getting to know Amy.

  • Betsy Williams, Office Assistant
    215-567-1267, bwilliams@htrit.org

    Betsy retired from Towers Perrin in 2003 and returned to the city. Her late husband was George Withrow Lewis, who was President of Rolls Royce America for many years. Betsy has three children: Natalie, a surgical physician's assistant, Bob, assistant principal at Archmere Academy, and Tom, marketing manager at Rosetta Stone. In August 2009 she will become a Granny for the fifth time! Betsy began assisting in the office at Holy Trinity in 2007 and also worked as a staff member for Trinity Central. She officially became Office Assistant in August 2008.

  • James Chadwick, Property Manager
    215-567-1267 ext.11, jchadwick@htrit.org

    Jim is a Philadelphia native, born and raised in Manayunk. Jim moved to Overbrook Park after he married, and from there onto Cherry Hill and Mt. Laurel, New Jersey. He returned to Philadelphia five years ago, residing in Center City along with his wife JoAnn. He is the proud father of two daughters and an even prouder Pop-Pop of three handsome and wonderful grandsons.

  • Jane Lindemann, Parish Accountant
    215-567-1267, bookkeeper@htrit.org

    You can find Jane in the Parish Office on Thursdays holding everyone “accountable!” As an employee of Your Part Time Controller, LLC, Jane has been the bookkeeper/accountant for Holy Trinity for the past eight years. She grew up in White Plains, NY, has a bachelor’s degree from Mount Holyoke College, and a master’s degree from Brandeis University. Don’t assume that accountants lead dull lives – among other things, Jane went to Woodstock (that is the Woodstock), spent her junior year in college at Hebrew University in Jerusalem, has camped cross country, been a puppeteer for the Junior League of Hampton Roads, is the wife of a Congregational Rabbi, and mother of four adult children in Cherry Hill, NJ. She enjoys crunching numbers here at Holy Trinity and working with the staff and parishioners.

  • Ed Weston, Trinity Central Supervisor
    215-567-1267 ext.11, iraweston@gmail.com

    Ed has been with Holy Trinity for the past 16 years in many capacities. He recently resigned from the Directorship of Parish Life Activities and the Hospitality Ministries. He currently serves in Pastoral Care, Healing Prayer Ministries and the Flower Guild. He also directs the Usher Ministry. Ed retired 18 years ago as a Human Resource Director. His hobbies include two great things: photography and traveling the world.

  • Ruth Worm, Trinity Central Supervisor

    Ruth moved to Philadelphia in 2000 from Easton, Maryland. She started working at the church of the Holy Trinity in May 2009. She enjoys greeting and welcoming people to the church. She gives them a tour, prays with them and tells them what wonderful things the church does for the people of Philadelphia and elsewhere. She said the opportunity to do this is God’s gift to her.