About Us

The Clergy

The Reverend Andrew C. Mead, OBE, DD, Rector

Father Mead came to Saint Thomas in 1996 after serving the Church of the Advent in Boston as Rector for eleven years. Prior to that he was Rector of the Church of the Good Shepherd, Rosemont, Pennsylvania, from 1978 to 1985. Earlier ministries include positions at the Parish of All Saints, Ashmont (Boston); St. Paul’s, Wallingford, Connecticut; and St. John the Evangelist, Yalesville, Connecticut.

Born in Rochester, New York, in 1946, Andrew Craig Mead received his BA from DePauw University and MDiv from Yale University Divinity School. He was ordained Deacon and Priest in 1971. In 1972 he married Nancy Anne Hoxsie of Narragansett, Rhode Island. They have two children and four grandchildren.

In 1974 the degree of MLitt was conferred upon Father Mead by Oxford University, where he studied at Keble College, successfully defending a thesis entitled A Critical Investigation of the Controversy between Newman and the Tractarians over the Development of Doctrine. During his two-year residence at Oxford from 1971 through 1973, Father Mead lived in and served the Parish of Cowley St. John.

Since 1987 Father Mead has been a member of the Board of Trustees of Nashotah House Theological Seminary, which bestowed the degree Doctor of Divinity, honoris causa, in May, 2002.

In recognition of Saint Thomas Church’s ministry to New York’s British community in the wake of the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center, particularly at an interfaith service on September 20 addressed by Prime Minister Tony Blair and broadcast live in its entirety throughout the United Kingdom, Father Mead was made an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth. The honor was conferred at a ceremony in October, 2002, at the British Embassy in Washington.

Committed to doctrinal orthodoxy in teaching and pastoral work, Father Mead has had long experience in the liturgical heritage of Catholic Anglicanism, grounded in the rubrics of the Book of Common Prayer. As a parish priest in the Anglo-Catholic tradition, he provides pastoral leadership through teaching and preaching, sacramental devotion and nurture, spiritual counsel, and pastoral care.

The Reverend Victor Lee Austin, PhD, Theologian-in-residence

Father Austin came to Saint Thomas early in 2005 to be the parish’s first “theologian-in-residence.” A priest-scholar, his background is in both the parish ministry and the academic world.

At Mount Aloysius College in Cresson, Pennsylvania, Father Austin was assistant professor of religious studies, philosophy, and theology. He has also taught on the adjunct faculty of Marist College in Poughkeepsie, New York; Mount St. Mary College in Newburgh, New York; and Fordham University and the General Theological Seminary in New York City.

As a priest of the diocese of New York, Father Austin served from 1989 to 2003 as rector of the Church of the Resurrection, Hopewell Junction. Before that he was curate of Zion Church in Wappingers Falls. He is a graduate of St. John’s College in Santa Fe, New Mexico, and the General Theological Seminary, and he earned his Ph.D. in theology from Fordham University in 2002.

Father Austin’s theological interests are wide-ranging but his particular focus is in Christian ethics, on which he has written numerous scholarly articles and a dissertation. Church Publishing brought out his first book, A Priest’s Journal, a series of vignettes from daily parish life. His second book, Up with Authority: Why We Need Authority to Flourish as Human Beings, has recently come out from T & T Clark, and you can hear a lecture from him on this topic here.  Saint Thomas has also recently published a new collection of his short pieces, Priest in New York: Church, Street, and Theology, which can be ordered here.

Father Mead has called Father Austin to Saint Thomas to exercise his priestly gifts as a theologian, a teacher, and a writer. He shares the full-time priestly ministry with the other clergy, celebrates said and sung masses, preaches, and, particularly, teaches and oversees the program of theological education for adults. He is eager to draw out people who care about ideas and want to grow in a theologically strong, orthodox and traditional Christian faith.

The Reverend Michael D. Spurlock, Curate

Father Spurlock was called to Saint Thomas June 2010 as Curate. Prior to his current role, he served for three years as Vicar of All Saints’ Church in the Diocese of Tennessee. He is a graduate of the University of Tennessee and Nashotah House Theological Seminary. He is married and has two children.

Along with his fellow Saint Thomas clergy, Father Spurlock shares a commitment to doctrinal orthodoxy in preaching, Christian witness and pastoral care. Father Spurlock’s priestly formation is at once grounded in Anglo-Catholic reverence for the sacraments, especially Christ’s presence in the Eucharist, and an Evangelical zeal for the great commission. Matthew 28.18-20

Father Mead called Father Spurlock to Saint Thomas to exercise his priestly gifts as a pastor. He shares the full-time priestly ministry with the other clergy, celebrates said and sung masses, preaches, and provides pastoral care for those in need. He also provides pastoral oversight for the Saint Thomas Youth Group and Sunday School. Father Spurlock has a particular interest in Benedictine spirituality and is available for spiritual direction.

The Reverend Joel C. Daniels, Assisting Priest

Joel Daniels was a parishioner at Saint Thomas before being sponsored for ordination by the parish in 2004. He was ordained to the priesthood in 2007 by the Rt. Rev. Mark Sisk, after which he spent two years as Associate Rector at the Church of Saint Barnabas in Irvington-on-Hudson, New York. He returned to Saint Thomas as an assisting priest in January, 2010.

In addition to his work at Saint Thomas, Father Daniels is a Ph.D. student at Boston University, studying contemporary theology, and religion and science. He is a graduate of Columbia University and The General Theological Seminary. More information about his academic work is available here.

The Reverend Canon John G. B. Andrew, OBE, DD, Rector Emeritus

Honorary Clergy

The Reverend Charles F. Wallace, Headmaster of Saint Thomas Choir School

The Reverend J. Anthony Fletcher, Honorary Assistant

The Reverend Canon Harold R. Landon, Honorary Assistant

The Reverend David F. McNeeley, Honorary Assistant

The Reverend William A. Norgren, Honorary Assistant

The Reverend Thomas F. Pike, Honorary Assistant

The Reverend John C. Smith, Honorary Assistant

The Reverend Ivan Weiser, Honorary Assistant

The Reverend Canon Prof. J. Robert Wright, Honorary Assistant

Music Office Staff

John Scott, LVO, DMus, Organist and Director of Music

John Scott, Organist and Director of Music since 2004, has an international reputation as an organist and choir trainer. After his initial musical training as a Cathedral chorister in Wakefield, Yorkshire, Dr. Scott become Organ Scholar of St. John’s College, Cambridge. While still a student, he made his Royal Albert Hall debut as the youngest organ soloist to appear in the Proms.

Upon leaving Cambridge, Dr. Scott was jointly appointed Assistant Organist at London’s two Anglican Cathedrals, St. Paul’s and Southwark. He subsequently became Sub-Organist of St. Paul’s, and served as Director of Music there for fourteen years before joining Saint Thomas Church as Director of Music. In 1998, he was nominated International Performer of the Year by the New York Chapter of the American Guild of Organists, and is a frequent jury member of the world’s most prestigious organ competitions. Before embarking for his new post in New York, he was awarded the title Lieutenant of the Royal Victorian Order (LVO), a personal honor from Queen Elizabeth II. He was awarded an Honorary Doctorate from Nashotah House Seminary in 2008.

More information about John may be found on his website. 

Benjamin Sheen, Assistant Organist-Designate

Benjamin Sheen is currently a second year Master's student at the Juilliard School, studying with Paul Jacobs. He started his musical education as a chorister at St. Paul’s Cathedral in London, under the direction of John Scott, before taking up his place as a music scholar at Eton College. In 2011, he graduated from Oxford University with a First Class Honours degree (BA) in Music, where he was also the Organ Scholar at Christ Church Cathedral for three years. Hailed as a ‘brilliant organist’ by the New York Times (January 2012), Ben is increasingly gaining recognition as an international concert organist, having given recitals and concerto performances throughout the UK, including the Royal Albert Hall, York Minster, St. Paul’s Cathedral, London and Westminster Abbey, as well as the USA, Australia, New Zealand, France and Germany. Notable recent engagements have included performances with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, the City of London Sinfonia and the Duisburg Philharmonie in Germany. He is a prize-winning Fellow of the Royal College of Organists, and a recipient of the prestigious Worshipful Company of Musicians' Silver Medal for 2011. In January 2012, Ben made his Juilliard concerto debut with a performance of Lou Harrison’s Concerto for Organ and Percussion Ensemble as part of the 2012 FOCUS! Festival. Upcoming performances include appearances at the 2013 Focus Festival at Juilliard, a live broadcast on American Public Media’s Pipedreams and solo recitals in Boston, Washington’s National Cathedral and further afield in London and Europe.

For more information on Ben’s upcoming engagements, please see his website.

Laurel Scarozza, Music Office Coordinator

Laurel Scarozza has been the Music Office Coordinator of Saint Thomas Church, Fifth Avenue, since 2006. Her responsibilities include coordination and implementation of all musical activities within the Saint Thomas Music Department, as well as managing the Gentlemen of The Choir, and the Annual Choirmasters’ Conference, which draws musicians from around the world.

Mrs. Scarozza received a Masters of Arts degree in Performing Arts Administration at New York University in 2006. She received her Bachelor’s Degree in Music Education and Voice, summa cum laude, at Westminster Choir College in Princeton, NJ in 2002. There she studied voice with Ms. Zehava Gal, conducting with Dr. James Jordan and Dr. Andrew Megill, and music education with Dr. Frank Abrahams.

Before coming to Saint Thomas, Mrs. Scarozza worked at the New York Philharmonic in the Education Department, in Development and Marketing at the American Boychoir School of Princeton, NJ and as an intern at IMG Artists in the Vocal Division. She was the Director of Music at Mustard Seed School in Hoboken, NJ between 2002 and 2004, where she taught upper school music and choir.

In addition to her duties at Saint Thomas Church, Mrs. Scarozza maintains an active freelance career singing in various professional choirs around the city. She is also a certified yoga instructor. 

Judith Moore, Music Librarian

Judith Moore began piano lessons at 6 years of age and organ lessons at 12. She earned a Bachelor’s degree in Music Ed. majoring in organ with a minor in piano from Lincoln University, Pennsylvania in 1972. Judith taught piano, organ and flute for many years and played regularly in several parishes before retiring from weekend responsibilities.

In 1988, Judith earned a Masters degree in the Arts and Humanities from Manhattanville College in Purchase, New York. While living in Indianapolis from 1988-1993, Judith served on the boards of the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra and the Indianapolis Museum of Art. From 1994 -2004, she held the post of Music Librarian at Washington’s National Cathedral as well as a part-time curatorial position in the photography collection at the Smithsonian American Art Museum. Judith has used her organizing skills in the Music Library at St. Thomas, since March, 2005.

Judith and her husband, Charles, live in Lower Manhattan and are the parents of nine grown children and the grandparents of 13.

Church and Parish House Staff

Barbara W. Pettus, Director of Administration and Finance

After graduating from Smith College and getting her Masters in Library Science from Simmons College, Barbara entered the non-profit arena as a public librarian in Andover, Mass. Ten years and an MBA later, she moved to NYC where she joined Chase Manhattan Bank. After twenty two years in commercial and private banking and one too many bank mergers, Barbara “retired” from the corporate world and moved into church administration where she has spent almost ten years, first at First Presbyterian Church as Business Administrator and currently at Saint Thomas Church as Director of Administration and Finance. Along the way she has been a member of the Junior League and served on the Boards of the Financial Women’s Association, the NYC Chapter of the Financial Planning Association and Signature Theatre. She is also a Vestry member of Saint Mark’s Church in Westhampton Beach, NY and the Treasurer of her Co-op Board in Manhattan.

Barbara lives in Manhattan with her husband and enjoys spending time with his two sons and two granddaughters.

Ann H. Kaplan, Director of Development

Ann started working at Saint Thomas Church in early 2008, as the church’s first Director of Development. Prior to coming to Saint Thomas, Ann was Director of Development at Saint Bartholomew’s Church from 2001 through 2007 and at Trevor Day School from 1992 to 2007.

Ann graduated from Duke University with a BA in history. She received an MAT in history from Yale University and an MBA from Southern Methodist University.

Committed to volunteer work, Ann currently serves on the board of Search and Care, Inc. in Manhattan. Previously she was a board member of Women in Development, the Greenwich Academy Alumni Association, The Ethel Walker’s School, Girl Scouts of Nassau Country and the Child Abuse Prevention Services of Long Island. She served as a member of the vestry of St. Stephen’s Church in Port Washington and was President of the Junior League of Long Island.

Ann has two grown children and lives in New York City with her husband.

Roberta S. Brill, Verger

Roberta became the Verger of Saint Thomas Church in November of 2010. She had previously been the chief executive of VNS CHOICE, the health plan of Visiting Nurse Service of New York. She has been the President of the Home Care Association of New York State, a member of the Governor’s Health Care Advisory Board and a Board Member of the Association for Community-Affiliated Plans.

After taking an early retirement from a career in health care administration, Roberta’s love for the liturgy and the music of Saint Thomas drew her out of retirement to put her organizational skills to work on behalf of the church.
She has been a parishioner at Saint Thomas for ten years, serving both as a Chantry Acolyte and a High Altar Acolyte. She was the co-chair of the 2010 Every Member Canvass Committee and has been a member of the Planned Giving and Canvass and Development Committees.

Roberta received a Master of Science in Administrative Medicine from Columbia University School of Public Health and a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from Michigan State University. After graduation, Roberta served as a lieutenant in the United States Women’s Army Corps.

She has an adult son and lives in Manhattan.

Edward J. Givins, Assistant Verger

Douglas M. Robbe, Secretary to the Rector

Andrew Kimsey, New Media Coordinator 

In 2009, Andrew Kimsey joined the staff of Saint Thomas Church, where he was already a parishioner and high altar acolyte. Mr. Kimsey is primarily responsible for the recording and webcasting of the choral services at Saint Thomas. He also maintains the archival library of all recorded worship, concert and recital audio and produces the online weekly audio messages of the Rector and of the Director of Music.

A musician by training, Mr. Kimsey began playing piano at the age of four. He received a degree of Music in Piano Performance at the University of Georgia, and continues to play recitals, as well as arrange and compose. He also maintains a freelance career in arranging and audio recording and editing. In addition, Mr. Kimsey has an extensive background in the technology industry. Prior to working at Saint Thomas, he worked for a software division of Marsh & McLennan Companies. 

David M. Daniel, Website and Nave Outreach
Raised in a Lutheran minister's family, David Daniel has attended Saint Thomas Church since 2003 and has worked at Saint Thomas since 2008. David manages the website and, since January 2011, has been a first responder to the 300,000 people who enter the Fifth Avenue doors of the church in between services each year. If you are a person who needs or wants to talk, or if you are a newcomer interested in learning more about Saint Thomas, don’t hesitate to contact him.

Educated as a lawyer, David shifted gears in the mid 1990s toward education itself, primarily in counseling, guidance and administration, though also in the classroom. He moved to New York City in 2003 as the National Director of Counseling Strategies for The Princeton Review, working with urban and rural school districts and charter schools that wanted to radically change how they helped their students explore and take part in life’s many opportunities. Since 2007, he has continued to occasionally work as a consultant for school districts across the country, but his passion is in the nave of Saint Thomas, encountering and interacting with the body of Christ.

Linda Morfi, Pastoral Care Coordinator