Parish Leadership and Staff
To contact a member of the Parish Leadership & Staff who does not have an email below, please contact the Parish Office by email or telephone (705-745-7624).
The Rev. Canon Brad Smith: Rector
Brad grew up on a farm just north of Lindsay and loves to see God at work in Creation. He graduated with a Bachelor of Arts with Honours (History) from Queen’s University at Kingston and a Master of Divinity from Trinity College, Toronto. Brad was appointed to the Parish of Tyendinaga in the Diocese of Ontario in late 2005 and was ordained deacon and priest in 2006. He was Regional Dean of Quinte from 2006 to 2010 and Archdeacon of Ontario from 2012 to 2015. In his time in the Diocese of Ontario, he also served on the Justice and Peace Commission, Synod Agenda Committee, Diocesan 150th Anniversary Planning Committee, and was the Diocesan MC and liturgical consultant. He was appointed as the incumbent of St John’s effective 15 November 2015. Since 2001, Brad has been an officer in the Canadian Armed Forces and is currently an Army Chaplain serving as the 33rd Canadian Brigade Group Chaplain. He has served as a member or chair of various community organisations, including a Committee on Human Trafficking, the Board of the Community Advocacy and Legal Centre (legal clinic in Belleville) and as chaplain and Community Services Committee member of the Loyalist Branch (Quinte Division) of St John Ambulance. Brad is passionate about justice and mission and has a particular interest in reconciliation with Indigenous Peoples. He and his husband Nathan Brinklow (Mohawk, Turtle Clan) live just east of Peterborough on a lovely country lot.
THE REV. MARY BELL-PLOUFFE: ASSOCIATE PRIEST
Mary has officially retired from full-time ministry but is assisting with pastoral care during the pandemic. To contact her, please contact the parish office.
Mary is passionate about the Good News of Jesus Christ, and helping others to grow more deeply in their spiritual life. She was raised Roman Catholic, and did her theological studies at the University of St. Michael’s College, graduating with a Master of Divinity in 1991. After working as a chaplain, Mary joined the Anglican Church in 1993 and was ordained as a priest in 1996. Mary is particularly interested in discovering new ways to connect with people who aren’t presently connected with a church community. If you have some ideas about this, she would love to hear from you.
Mary leads a team of Biblical Storytellers who bring the scriptures to life. Mary is an inspirational preacher and loves to teach and work collaboratively with others. Mary and her husband Daniel have 3 adult children and 2 young grandsons. They live in the country with their two horses, two donkeys and two cats.
THE REV. TERRY NOBLE: ASSOCIATE PRIEST
Terry provides liturgical leadership in the Open Circle worshipping community and, from time to time, in the Nave. He also facilitates parish training workshops for the Diocese of Toronto’s Responsible Ministry: Screening in Faith Program and Sexual Misconduct Policy.
THE REV. RUTH ADAMS: HONORARY ASSOCIATE PRIEST
Ruth is a retired priest who is active in Sunday worship and leads a new ministry called “Communion, Conversation, and Coffee” in a local apartment complex that is particularly geared towards seniors. She is a trained spiritual director and can provide this ministry to parishioners upon request.
THE REV. STEVE SMITH: HONORARY ASSOCIATE PRIEST
Steve worked for the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources in a number of positions for 29 years before feeling the call to ordained ministry. He graduated in 2002 with a Master of Divinity from Wycliffe College, Toronto. His parish ministry was in the Parish of Cavan/Manvers for three years and the Parish of St Luke the Evangelist in Peterborough for nine years before retiring in 2015. Now Steve finds himself back in the parish he worshipped in before ordination. When he is not acting as an interim priest-in-charge in parishes in times of transition, he and his wife (of more than 40 years!) Barbara worship with us and Steve provides liturgical coverage during clergy absences. They have four sons and three grandchildren.
THE REV. CHRISTIAN HARVEY: DEACON
Bev’s special area of interest is pastoral care and healing and her primary ministry as a deacon is to coordinate pastoral visiting of the sick and those who are unable to attend worship. She serves as chaplain to and a member of the hospital visitors of the Peterborough Deanery. Bev is committed to the mission of the Church and leads worship at Fairhaven Home, Empress Gardens, and St James’, Emily. She can also be seen from time to time at St John’s Knitting Group and Hillmar Apartments. Bev was ordained a deacon at St Barnabas’ Church on Mothers’ Day, 2009. She is married to Art White and they have four children and seven grandchildren.
THE REV. BEV THOMPSON: DEACON
Bev’s special area of interest is pastoral care and healing and her primary ministry as a deacon is to coordinate pastoral visiting of the sick and those who are unable to attend worship. She serves as chaplain to and a member of the hospital visitors of the Peterborough Deanery. Bev is committed to the mission of the Church and leads worship at Fairhaven Home, Empress Gardens, and St James’, Emily. She can also be seen from time to time at St John’s Knitting Group and Hillmar Apartments. Bev was ordained a deacon at St Barnabas’ Church on Mothers’ Day, 2009. She is married to Art White and they have four children and seven grandchildren.
JENNIFER PASSMORE: RECTOR’S WARDEN
The Churchwardens and the Incumbent comprise the Corporation of the Parish. The Wardens are responsible for the oversight of all lay parish staff, finances, and care of the buildings. With the Incumbent, they are the decision-making officers of the parish.
Jennifer is the fourth generation of her family to attend St. John’s. She grew up in the choir, attending the Toronto Diocesan Choir School for Girls for 15 years. She has been a lay member of Diocesan Synod as both youth member and adult. She was a member of the Servers’ Guild as a youth, rang the bells for weddings and services, and now participates as a reader and refreshment host. Jennifer worked as both an Applications and Business Analyst for 20 years with three different global corporations. She was also on the executive board of the Ottawa Classical Choir and condominium while living in Ottawa. Jennifer currently teaches business computer applications at Sir Sandford Fleming College. Jennifer brings with her business knowledge, leadership skills, as well as a love for the church, its parishioners and the Peterborough community.
JAMES WELDON: PEOPLE’S WARDEN
The Churchwardens and the Incumbent comprise the Corporation of the Parish. The Wardens are responsible for the oversight of all lay parish staff, finances, and care of the buildings. With the Incumbent, they are the decision-making officers of the parish.
MICKEY BONGERS: DEPUTY PEOPLE’S WARDEN
The Deputy Churchwarden is a link from the congregation to the Corporation and attends corporation meetings to provide advice.
JULIE DECK: DIRECTOR OF MUSIC
Julie Deck holds Bachelor’s degrees in Music and Education. She has been with the Peterborough Children’s Chorus for 11 years as accompanist or parent and has conducted the Junior Choir for the past three years. Julie studied organ performance and choral conducting at the University of Toronto where she was Assistant to the Hart House Chorus and the Choral Scholar for the Church of St Mary Magdalene. Her love for children’s voices crosses into her teaching experiences, currently working at the Peterborough Children’s Montessori and Preparatory School. Her desire is to create meaningful musical experiences for young people to inspire lifelong creation of music in their lives. She has an active piano studio. Julie was the Worship and Music Director at Cephas Christian Reformed Church, Peterborough, for 10 years. She is married to Gord and they have three children.
CAROLYN PORTEOUS: PARISH ADMINISTRATOR
Carolyn Porteous as the parish administrator is responsible for all the secretarial duties of the Church as well as co-ordinating all the space rentals and room usage, a crucial task for the busy parish. For general information, Carolyn is a great person to call or email.
Email the Parish Administrator
DARLENE CLOUTHIER: CUSTODIAN
Darlene Clouthier is the parish caretaker. She keeps the building clean and willingly helps to move tables, chairs and other fixtures when needed.