Meet the Members of Our Staff

Rector: the Rev. Nicholas T. Porter

The Rev. Nicholas T. Porter graduated from Yale in 1986, has a Masters  degree in Middle East Studies from the American University in Cairo, a Masters degree in War Studies from King’s College at the University of London and his Master of Divinity is from Berkeley/Yale Divinity.  He was ordained to the Priesthood in 1995, and has served as Curate at St. George’s Cathedral in Jerusalem and as Sub-Dean and Canon Pastor at the American Cathedral in Paris. Before he came to Trinity in 2005 he was the Rector at Emmanuel Church in Geneva, Switzerland. He and his wife, Dorothy, met while at Yale together and they have three daughters.

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Curate: the Rev. Dawn Stegelmann

The Rev. Dawn Stegelmann has been the curate at Trinity since July 2008. Born in Illinois, Dawn is a graduate of Hillsdale College, Hillsdale, MI, where she met her husband, Murry. After graduation, they moved to the East Coast where they raised three sons. Dawn graduated from Berkeley Divinity School at Yale and was ordained to the diaconate in June 2008. She was ordained to the priesthood at Trinity in February, 2009.

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Associate Clergy: the Rev. R. Mark Glidden

The Rev. R. Mark Glidden is an associate priest at Trinity and he is secularly employed as a licensed psychotherapist specializing in couple, marriage, and family therapy. Mark has a BA in European History from Lawrence University in Appleton, WI, and a MDiv. from General Theological Seminary.  He was ordained to the priesthood in 1968 and also has a post-graduate Certificate in Pastoral Counseling from the Blanton-Peale Graduate Institute in New York City. Mark and his wife, Susan have two grown children and live in Southport.

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Interim Organist and Choirmaster: Brandon Beachamp

Brandon has worked extensively with young people, often within the Royal School of Church Music tradition. He graduated from Westminster Choir College with a Bachelor of Music in Sacred Music. He has served as Choir School Director at the House of Hope Presbyterian Church in St Paul, MN, as Choral Director of the Middle Years Programme for Music at the Altanta International School, and most recently he served as Interim Organist and Choirmaster at Christ's Church in Rye, NY. Brandon is currently a Master's student in Psychological Counseling at Columbia University.

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Church School Director: Sharon Turlis

Sharon Turlis has recently moved from Florida where she lived for nine years and was the Director of the Sunday school program at St. Mary Magdalene Episcopal Church in Coral Springs. Sharon grew up in Milford, CT and raised her family in Wallingford. She has been blessed with one grandson who lives in Meriden and a granddaughter who lives in New Hampshire. She loves to read mysteries and enjoys Broadway musicals. Sharon studied Education for Ministry and trained as a facilitator for a parenting program titled “Developing Capable People.” She also studied teaching Godly Play, which is similar in structure to the Montessori Method. Sharon hopes to form a strong partnership with parents and adult caregivers of the children of Trinity as we help them develop a strong sense of faith and service to our Lord and his son Jesus Christ. She can be reached at Ext. 302 or emailed at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Seminarian for Youth Ministry and Pastoral Care: Stephen Blackmer 

Stephen Blackmer is in his third and final year of seminary at Berkeley Divinity School at Yale. Stephen received a B.A. in Anthropology from Dartmouth in 1979 and a master's in Forestry from Yale in 1983. Prior to returning to Yale to train for the priesthood, Stephen was a regional and national leader in land conservation and established numerous non-profit conservation organizations. When not in Connecticut, Stephen's home is in Canterbury, New Hampshire, where he has lived with his wife, Kelly, for nearly 30 years and raised two wonderful children. His passion is building common ground among people who love nature and people who love God, in a time when both are at risk.

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Trinity Parish Nursery School Director: Meg Reilly

Meg Reilly was raised in Connecticut and earned her degrees in Human Development and Early Childhood Education from Lesley University. She has extensive experience with young children and has worked in a school setting for the past twenty-seven years. For seven of those years, she owned and operated a preschool serving over sixty families in Yarmouth Port, Mass. She has worked with special needs children and was involved in the development of a model program designed for "at risk" preschool children in the Massachusetts public school system. Meg has had a variety of experiences relating to child assessment and curriculum planning that enhances the learning styles of the individual child. Our families and teachers benefit from her insight and know that she understands and deeply cares for children.  With her warm, engaging personality it is apparent that children are her passion.  This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Financial Officer: Melanie Andrews

Melanie Andrews, Financial Administrator, has been employed by Trinity Church since 2005.  Melanie holds a B.A. from Connecticut College and an M.A. from N.Y.U.  She has lived in Fairfield with her husband and 3 children for the past 13 years.  In addition to working for Trinity Melanie teaches piano lessons part-time from her home.

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Communications Administrator: Cassia Ward

Cassia Ward was a book editor and designer at Penguin Books and Sterling Publishing Co., Inc. She is a cradle Episcopalian who has served on Vestries and numerous church committees, both in her home parish of St. Mark’s New Canaan, CT and at St. Peter’s, Chelsea in New York City. She has a daughter, three step-daughters and five step-grandchildren, and lives with her husband in Norwalk.

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Sexton: Russ Preisick

Russ grew up in Baldwin LI and moved to Ct in 1990.  He lives in Fairfield and loves skiing, camping, and the great outdoors.

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