STAFF AND LEADERSHIP

The Rev. Melissa Remington

The Rev. Melissa Remington has served as an ordained Episcopal priest for 20 years this coming May 2027. She served in parishes from Western New York to Florida to West Virginia to New Hampshire. She has served at the diocesan level as chair of Diversity and An End to Racism in Diocese of WV as well as offered Christian Formation programs helping with Homiletics as part of the IONA curriculum used in Diocese of WV and offered her course on Bridging the Gap between Science and Religion. She has worked with all ages on Christian formation and education with extensive experience in pastoral care. She is a strong advocate for inclusivity of children and youth in worship. Prior to her ordination to priesthood, Rev Melissa was a research scientist in biotechnology fields. She especially enjoys exploring the connections between religion and science.

Melissa and her husband, Kelly, have 5 grown children and 10 grandchildren. Melissa keeps an interest in the sciences. She taught Chemistry Labs to freshman at SNHU as an adjunct instructor in 2025 part time. She enjoys the out of doors and has two horses (a palomino quarter horse, Elena, and an auburn quarter horse named Yuma). Outside of ordained ministry she enjoys horseback riding, hiking, the ocean, gardening, reading and spending time with her grandchildren, family and friends.

The Rev. Shawn La France, Deacon

Shawn V. LaFrance was ordained a Deacon in the Episcopal Church of New Hampshire in 2017 after finishing the diaconal formation program in the Diocese of Massachusetts. He did chaplaincy training (Clinical Pastoral Education) at Havenwood-Heritage Heights in Concord and Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center in Lebanon.

Shawn completed the Education for Ministry program at St. Paul’s Church and began serving as a Deacon at Grace Church after ordination. He is from the Granite State, born in Berlin and raised in Laconia. He earned his undergraduate degree at UNH and completed a Master of Public Health and an MS in Urban Planning at Columbia University.

Shawn retired in 2023 from a career in community-based health services. He is married and the parent of two adult sons.

Keith Belanger, Music Minister

Keith is a music director, vocal coach, singer, and accompanist, and is very happy to serve the Episcopal Church as a music minister. Keith was the organist and choir director at St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church in Pittsfield for 10 years and was educated in music education at the University of New Hampshire. In addition to being the resident music director for the Majestic Theatre in Manchester, Keith works full time for Premier Coach of Vermont. He lives in Derry with his wife and 3 sons.

Vestry

The Vestry meets on the second Thursday of each month at 6 p.m. They pray together and provide leadership and service for the church’s finances, ministries and spiritual direction. Currently, its members and officers are:

Don Henderson, Junior Warden
Becky Carr, Treasurer
Charlotte Cross, Clerk
Judy Mitchell
Julia Miller
Barbara Ashworth
Wendy Hawkes

Convention Delegates

These delegates are elected annually to represent our members at the diocesan (state-wide) Fall Convention where they vote on budget and policy decisions. This year, our delegates are:

Rick Wolf
Wendy Hawkes
Barbara Ashworth