Clergy and Staff of ECY

  1. Rev. Dr. Nihal de Lanerolle

    Chaplain-in-Residence

    Nihal was born and grew up in Sri Lanka, where he was educated through his undergraduate degree in Zoology. He pursued doctoral studies at the University of Sussex in England and received a Doctor of Philosophy degree in Neuroethology and subsequently the Doctor of Science degree. After Sussex, he read Theological and Religious Studies at Jesus College, Cambridge and did his pastoral training at Ridley Hall Cambridge. He specialized in the comparative study of religions, in particular Buddhism. He arrived in the USA in 1974 and was ordained deacon (1977) and priest (1978) in the Diocese of Minnesota. He came to Connecticut in late 1978 where he has been since, working at Yale University School of Medicine, where he is a Professor of Neurosurgery and Neurobiology. After three years as College Chaplain at Trinity College, Hartford, Connecticut, he assumed the role of Chaplain-in-Residence at the Episcopal Church at Yale in 2002. His hobbies include reading, listening to classical music, playing squash and badminton, traveling and hiking.

  2. Joshua Stafford

    Choirmaster

    Joshua Stafford is a first year graduate student in the Yale University School of Music and Institute of Sacred music, where he studies with Thomas Murray. He is also the recipient of the Robert Baker Award, granted to the most promising incoming organ student. Joshua recently received his bachelor degree from the prestigious Curtis Institute of Music in Philadelphia, where he was a full-tuition scholarship student of Alan Morrison. Joshua was recently appointed Organist and Choirmaster of St. Andrew’s Anglo-Catholic Parish in Stamford, CT.

    Joshua has performed recitals across the country, including notable venues such as Philadelphia’s Kimmel Center, Princeton University Chapel, Ocean Grove Auditorium (Ocean Grove, NJ), Spivey Hall (Morrow, GA), and Ursinus College (Collegeville, PA). He has also been a regular performer on the world’s largest outdoor organ, the Massey Memorial Organ at Chautauqua Institution, and the world’s largest organ, the Wanamaker Grand Court Organ at Macy’s in Philadelphia. In July 2009, Joshua traveled to England for an extensive tour with the choirs of the Church of the Redeemer. While there, he played for concerts and services in many churches and cathedrals, including Gloucester Cathedral, Lincoln Cathedral, St. Alban’s Cathedral, Hereford Cathedral, Tewkesbury Abbey, the Royal Naval College Chapel in Greenwich, and St. George’s Chapel at Windsor Castle. A native of Jamestown, NY, Joshua began piano studies at the age of six. His interest in the organ was sparked at a Pipe Organ Excursion held by the Chautauqua AGO chapter that he attended at the age of ten. Joshua’s previous teachers include Jared Jacobsen of Chautauqua Institution, and James Bigham of Holy Trinity Lutheran, Buffalo, NY. Former positions include Assistant Organist at St. Mark’s Anglo-Catholic Church, Philadelphia, PA; Organist of St. Luke’s Episcopal Church in Jamestown, NY, and St. John’s Episcopal Church in Bala Cynwyd, PA; Organ Scholar at the historic Washington Memorial Chapel in Valley Forge, PA; and Assistant Director of Music at The Church of the Redeemer in Bryn Mawr, PA.

  3. Paul Thomas

    Organist

    Paul Thomas is a recent graduate of Furman University in Greenville, SC, where he earned the Bachelor of Music degree in Organ Performance, magna cum laude. His organ instructors were Charles Tompkins and Karen Eshelman. As a student, Paul was the organ scholar and later conductor of the Furman Chancel Choir, which sang for weekly services in Daniel Chapel. He served as the accompanist and organist of the Furman Singers and the organ scholar of the Furman Chamber Choir, accompanying the choirs on domestic and international tours. As a solo organist, he has performed recitals throughout the Carolinas, including a recent appearance at the Piccolo Spoleto Festival in Charleston, SC. In addition to his involvement with the Episcopal Church at Yale, Paul serves as Director of Music at Trinity Lutheran Church in Milford, CT. His organ instructors are Larry Smith and Thomas Murray.

  4. Alex Marshall

    Seminarian

    Alex Marshall is a second year Master of Divinity Candidate at Yale Divinity School. He is a graduate of Southeastern Bible College in Birmingham, Alabama were he studied Theology and Philosophy. Ultimately, his goal is to pursue further academic training and to teach and write in the areas of theology, philosophy, and Old Testament studies. Alex is also very interested in campus ministry and is super-excited about exploring that more this year as he works with ECY. He is a guitarist with experience as a worship leader at churches in Memphis and Birmingham, and as the Worship Coordinator for the Barbara C. Harris Camp operated by the Episcopal Diocese of Massachusetts. Having grown up in an evangelical, non-denominational church, Alex has since college explored Baptist, Episcopalian/Anglican, Presbyterian, and Methodist churches. He spent a year working as the Youth Director for a United Methodist Church near Birmingham and was also involved with campus ministry there before moving to New Haven to start Divinity School.