10 Trinity Sq
Toronto, ON
M5G 1B1
416-598-4521
416-598-1432 (fax)
map

Rental space available

Weddings at Holy Trinity

weekly services
Sun. 10:30 am, 2:00pm;
Wed. 12:15 pm

email:
 the church
 the webmaster

parish staff

Holy Trinity Staff

Sherman Hesselgrave, Incumbent

Having grown up in a clergy household on the mission field in East Africa, the one thing I was certain I would never be when I grew up was a minister--I knew far too much about what happens behind the scenes, and besides, medicine and music were more alluring at the time. I was well along the path to becoming an academic librarian, working on my master's in musicology, when God's still small voice whispered the first hint of a call to Holy Orders. It happened during a sermon on the Magnificat (The Song of Mary) by Bishop Robert Appleyard during the December ordinations, and my first response was tachycardia and panic. I knew that running in the opposite direction historically has not worked particularly well (think Jonah or Moses), so after a year of discernment, my vocation to priesthood was confirmed, and I accepted the call.

My spiritual formation continued at the Church Divinity School of the Pacific, one of nine member seminaries of the Graduate Theological Union centered in Berkeley, California. What a rich intellectual feast those three years were, studying alongside Lutherans, Jesuits, Presbyterians, Franciscans, Unitarians, Methodists, Dominicans, and Baptists. Following graduation, I was called to parish ministry in Portland, Oregon, and, until coming to Holy Trinity, served churches in the Pacific Northwest.

As a priest and musician I am passionate about liturgy that engages and feeds. My other passion is for social justice, and Holy Trinity's long history of leadership in this arena is what first attracted me. One's vocation as a Christian is called forth from the DNA of the baptismal covenant, which includes promises to seek and serve Christ in all persons, to strive for justice and peace, and to respect the dignity of every human being.

On a more mundane plane, I make a fierce Bucatini all' Amatriciana, prefer red zins, and my iPod includes an eclectic variety from Brad Mehldau, Keith Jarrett, and Franz Ferdinand, to Bach, Widor, Duruflé and Ligeti.

Junior Harbans, Senior Caretaker and Verger

Junior Harbans is our Senior Caretaker and Verger. He has a strong commitment to offer radical hospitality to those who enter the church during our open hours (daily from 11-3). He has a strong commitment to social justice. Junior is responsible for cleaning, property management and security. He supervises and arranges the schedule of the Sextons (Part time care-taking staff). Junior is also a story-teller, wire-sculptor and drummer.

Margot Linken, Parish Administrator

Margot Linken is our parish administrator. She knows a lot about the history of Holy Trinity and the way things work on a day to day basis. She greets and helps direct visitors who come into our parish building (#10 behind the church) daily, offering hospitality on behalf of the community. She oversees the bookeeping, schedules the care-taking staff and the use of parish facilities and relates to our tenants. She also has responsibility in the areas of property and office management, personnel, accounting and finance. She works closely with the Incumbent, Wardens, Property Elder, Treasurer, Assistant Treasurer, Envelope Secretary and Committee Chairs. Margot is an avid reader, walker and animal lover.

Becca Whitla, Music Director

As Holy Trinity's Music Coordinator, Becca leads the community's music making by playing the organ, piano, trumpet, kanjira and by singing. She also leads the spirited Holy Trinity Seasonal Choir. Becca believes that music is a critical, vibrant and healing part of the life of any community: she thinks that everyone's voice deserves to be heard! Becca is also co-founder and co-director of the Echo Women's Choir, a community choir dedicated to building a strong, varied and vibrant culture: Echo can be heard on their 10th anniversary CD "Gonna Sing and Shout". She was the founding leader of the H.E.R.E. Local 75 Choir. She worked with dub poet and musician Michael St. George and the choir to record the choir's CD, I Still Have Joy. Becca sang and travelled with Georgian folk choir Darbazi and women's quartet Aisi. She is co-founder of Worldsongs Vocal Camp. In the past she has taught with Village Harmony in Vermont and Yeoman's Fund of New Hampshire. She was a key organizer for the tour of South Africa's Polokwane Choral Society in June 2004. She sat on the Music Committee of the Toronto Arts Council from 2005-2007.

Among other milestones in her past, Becca studied at the Royal Conservatory (ARCT, 1986) York University (BFA, 1990), with the Royal Canadian College of Organists (CRRCO 2002). She won the Kathleen Williams scholarship from the RCCO in 1998 and was Music Coach and Consultant for Theatre Gargantua who were awarded a Dora for music in 1997 while she worked with them. In 1998 she released a CD with her husband, Alan Gasser (tenor), Parlour Songs & Heart Songs, recorded in the church.