Leadership and Staff

Our Priest in Charge



The Rev. Denise Cabana joined St. James as Priest-in-Charge in July 2022 after serving as rector of St. James' Church in Glastonbury for seven years. Her prior positions include rector of St. James' Church in Indian Head, Maryland for nine years and associate rector of Trinity Church in Branford for four years. She received a Master of Divinity degree from the Virginia Theological Seminary, with a seminarian parish assignment at the Church of St. Clement in Alexandria, and with chaplain assignments at the Hospice of Northern Virginia and at the alcohol addiction treatment unit at the National Institutes of Health in Bethesda, Maryland.



Denise has a bachelor's degree in sociology from North Adams State College in Massachusetts and a Master of Education degree from the University of Maine at Orono. Prior to her seminary experience, Denise had leadership positions on the Boards of the Manchester Community Services Council, the Manchester Early Learning Center, the Manchester Interracial Council, the AIDS Ministries Programs of Connecticut and the Connecticut Coalition to End Homelessness. She worked for the Manchester Area Conference of Churches first as the Director of their shelter for people who are homeless and soup kitchen and then as the Executive Director of the agency.

Denise and her husband Doug live in New London with their dog, Gus and two cats, Harley and Vinny.  Denise and Doug enjoy traveling, kayaking, biking, getting Gus out for a hike and visiting local wineries. They also like exploring quirky museums and off the beaten path sites.

Parish Officers

Senior Warden Lori Sarkett 

Junior Warden Ralph Anderson 

Parish Clerk  Kathleen Harrington 

Treasurer   Matt Pinson

Asst Treasurer Garrett Brennan

Vestry

Until 2025                 Until 2026                Until 2027 

David Downes           Judy Benson           Erik Ingmundson

Kris Drew                    Ann Burdick            Regina Ventura

Marci Marciniak        Karla Umland          Kris Zarfos

Staff

Parish Administrator           Ellen Merrill

Organist/Choirmaster          Jason Largent

Sexton                                   Scott Swanson 

Lord's Pantry Coordinator   Diane Theis   

Parish Historian                    Mary Lycan