Rector

The Rev. George Sinclair is married to Louise and they have nine kids: Tosh, Jesse, Victoria, Jacob, Joseph, Elizabeth, Katherine, Emma and Tommy. Four of his kids are married and he has four grandchildren, Gabriella, Gordon, Charlotte and Reuben. He also has a dog named Pixie (He didn’t name it) and a dog named Arnie. He is: the Vice-Chair of the Anglican Network in Canada, former Chair of Anglican Essentials Canada, a member of the Pastoral Advisory Team of New Directions Ottawa, and a member of the Elmhurst Group. He was ordained in 1985 and has served in a suburban parish and a rural parish. He has been the Rector of St. Alban’s since 1 August 1995.

Parish Administrator

John Paterson has made Ottawa his home for almost nine years, after living in Halifax, Waterloo and Montreal. He has a B.A. and M.A. in Philosophy. He loves chess and other games, big dogs, rare movies, 50′s music, and having adventures in the unknown. Recently he wed Joanne and they are building a life together. Without a big dog.

Organist and Choir Director

Holly Darkes grew up in a small community in the Northwest Territories. After completing undergraduate studies in music in Victoria B.C., Holly moved to Ottawa in 2008 to do her master’s degree in piano performance at the University of Ottawa. She is now the pianist, organist and choir director at Church of the Messiah. Holly’s interests include reading, chamber music, science, exploring and spending time with her cat Mischief. She is also an obsessive cross-country skier and, consequently, her favorite season is winter. She thinks it is unfortunate that Ottawa winters are so short.

Worship Team Leader and Young Adult Coordinator

Jeremiah Smith has lived an exciting life thus far in his pursuit of Christ.  He grew up in Southern Ontario and at the age of twenty moved to Ottawa to work with the National House of Prayer.  He worked there for two years helping lead an intensive discipleship program for young adults from across Canada.  In 2010 he had the opportunity to spend 3 months as part of a 24/7 prayer community in Jerusalem, Israel.  Most recently he worked as a youth pastor in Summerside, PEI.  He is currently attending Carleton University in the Humanities program (in an attempt to finally finish his degree). He loves (i.e. is addicted to) coffee and thus you will find him at one of Ottawa’s many cafe’s (numerous times a day).

People’s Warden

Gary Graber

Rector’s Warden

Janice Fiamengo works in the English Department at the University of Ottawa, where she teaches courses in Canadian literature and pursues research on early Canadian women writers and representations of nature and animals. She has lived in Ottawa since August, 2003, and is gradually adjusting to its extremes of temperature. She became a Christian in 2001, beginning a challenging journey to “enter by the narrow gate” of Christ which “leads to life” (Matt. 7: 13-14). She is excited to have the opportunity to learn more about the Christian life and to participate with other members of Church of the Messiah in building a strong, faithful, loving, and supportive church. Her main goals are to come to a better understanding of the Bible and to live a more fully Christ-centred life so as to be an effective witness for Jesus.

Deputy Wardens

Karl Ruban

Diane Scharf was born and raised in Ottawa.  Her mother’s family had emigrated from Ireland; while her father’s family, with strong Irish roots, had settled in the east end of the city in the 19th Century.  Her parents had come to faith in the Lord in their early twenties and decided they wanted to raise their family in a Bible believing church.

Sunday school and youth group were part of her upbringing.  It was as a young person Diane realized that she was a sinner and try as she could she was unable to live the Christian life on her own. Receiving Christ as her Saviour and having God come to reside in her by His Holy Spirit made a big difference in Diane’s life. She found forgiveness, and a peace and joy not dependent on circumstances.  It gave her a reason for living, strength and courage to face tough situations and a dynamic for daily life that far surpasses anything she had known before.  Diane has found in a relationship with Jesus Christ the answers to life, guidance and healing in her body, mind and soul.  To know that God loves her and has a purpose for her life, has given her a richness and sense of fulfillment that is so cool.

A career of working in an office has been good and at times fun with many neat experiences.  Diane feels very blessed and happy. She appreciates the teaching, fellowship and new friends that she has made at St Albans. It is a happening place!

Graham Swan is an executive with the Privy Council Office in the area of federal-provincial relations.  He and his wife Rosemary have been coming to Church of the Messiah for six years.  They have three children.  In his free time, Graham likes kayaking and camping with his family.  He looks forward to working with Father George and the other wardens to help Church of the Messiah through these challenging times.

Natasha Wallace