Clergy and Staff

The Most Rev’d David Edwards was born and educated in Shropshire, England. He studied at Loughborough University and Homerton College Cambridge and worked as a high school history teacher prior to completing diplomas in Religious and Evangelism Studies followed by a Master of Arts in Applied Theology at the University of Kent at Canterbury.

Both prior to and following his ordination in 1995, Bishop Edwards served in ministry in the Chelmsford Diocese in England, including as Bishop’s Advisor in Evangelism and in the Parish of High Ongar. He moved to New Brunswick in 1998 to be Principal of Taylor College of Evangelism. He has also served in parishes in Saint John, as Parish Development Officer for the Diocese of Fredericton and as Vice-Chair of Safe Harbour Transitional Youth Services in Saint John.

David was elected coadjutor bishop May 10, 2014 and, subsequently, installed as the tenth Bishop of Fredericton September 20.  He was elected Metropolitan of the Ecclesiatical Province of Canada (Dioceses of Montreal, Quebec, Fredericton, Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island, Eastern Newfoundland and Labrador, Central Newfoundland and Western Newfoundland) in June of 2020 and assumed that role on 01 August 2020.

He was awarded an Honorary Doctor of Divinity from Wycliffe College (University of Toronto) in May 2015 and now serves on the College’s Board of Trustees. He also serves on behalf of the Anglican Church of Canada, as Liaison Bishop to Mission to Seafarers Canada.

David enjoys reading, walking and has been a life-time supporter of the Wolverhampton Wanderers Football Club (the Wolves). David was married to Janet until her death in 2018.  He married Debbie (Collicott) in early 2020.

Geoffrey Hall has been Dean of Fredericton since September 2014. As a priest of the Diocese of Fredericton, he is the appointed priest at Christ Church Cathedral and serves a canonical role in the Diocese outlined in Canon Four s.5 and in the Bishop and Chapter By-Law.

Geoffrey holds a BEd (Major-Secondary Environmental Studies, Minor-General Science) from the University of New Brunswick, Fredericton (1986) and was admitted to the degree of Master of Divinity (MDiv) at Atlantic School of Theology (1990). In the Diocese he has served in the parishes of St. Phillip’s, Moncton, Central Kings, St. Paul, the Tobique, Grand Bay, Ketepec, as Archdeacon of St. Andrews (2001-2003). Most recently he was Diocesan Archdeacon and Executive Assistant to Bishop Claude Miller (2003-2014).

Originally from Woodstock NB, Geoffrey is married to Kelley and feels called particularly to ministries of Christian proclamation and faith development. He enjoys music and the casual study of things technological, especially that which enables and enhances communication. When not attending to the duties of ministry, spending time with family (two grandchildren!), experimenting with some of what is possible with computer-based technology and the internet and making a bit of wine all keep him more than occupied.

Born in Ottawa, Ontario, Debbie grew up in Keswick Ridge, New Brunswick, where she still makes her home with Phillip, her husband of 45+ years. They have two sons and daughters-in-law and four grandchildren, who are a tremendous source of joy.

She is a life-long Anglican, with, as she describes, “a well rounded Ecumenical background.” Drawing on her rural roots, she leads workshops and retreats with humour and a down to earth sense of the sacred. Debbie was ordained as a Vocational Deacon on 01 February 2009. She completed training in Spiritual Direction with the Haden Institute in conjunction with Mount Carmel Spiritual Center in Niagara Falls in 2014.

Debbie has always been involved with her church community through groups and activities from teaching Sunday School to serving on Vestry to being a Layreader and then being called to Ordained Ministry, which she feels is an ongoing learning and awakening experience. On 01 February, 2025, Debbie was appointed as chaplain at the Dr. Everett Chalmers Regional Hospital in Fredericton by Archbishop David Edwards. Debbie is also the Cathedral Hospital Visitors Coordinator and the Diocesan Representative for the Anglican Fellowship of Prayer.

J. Thomas D. Gonder, born in Cayuga, Ontario, exhibited musical gifts at an extremely early age. He spent most of his life in London, Ontario, his family having relocated there in 1981. Immediately becoming involved in the musical life of St. Paul’s Cathedral, he spent many years there as a chorister, Organ Scholar, Assistant Organist, and Organist and Master of the Choristers. Thomas quickly rose to the forefront of the Canadian Organ scene as one of its brightest young performers shortly after his public debut at the age of 15 under the tutelage of D. Mervyn Games. His teachers, mentors and greatest influences also include David Palmer, Ian Sadler, William McArton, Catherine Crozier, Simon Preston, Gerald Bales, Naji Hakim and David Briggs.

Thomas joined the Cathedral Staff in January of 2020 and quickly and enthusiastically joined the wider Fredericton community. A lover of nature and a self-professed bird watcher, he is enjoying some of what makes life along the River St. John so unique.

Kirsten is passionate about creating positive change through community collaboration and inclusiveness. She holds a B.A. from Memorial University of Newfoundland and an LL.B. from the University of New Brunswick. She spent 15 years working as a consultant for a variety of non-profit organizations on health promotion initiatives, communications and event planning, and has volunteered with a number of youth-focused community groups.

Born in Ontario, Kirsten has lived in five provinces and her strongest roots are in Newfoundland, where most of her extended family lives. She and her husband Brad have lived in Fredericton since 2002 and have two daughters: Claire and Charlotte.

Kirsten has grown in faith as part of the Cathedral’s church family: through worship, as a member of the Communications Committee, a Belize mission team member, and volunteer for programs and events. As Office Administrator, she also sits on the Finance and Administration Committee. She feels blessed to be a part of the Cathedral’s staff, helping to connect the community for God’s purposes.

Ashley John Swim was born in Oromocto and raised in McAdam, where his family still resides. As a child and youth he spent a lot of time on his grandfather’s farm just outside McAdam near the New Brunswick/Maine border. He considers himself an outdoorsman and loves nature, and is also an avid reader with a broad range of interests. He loves history and one of his favorite hobbies is tracing ancestry and genealogy.

Ashley has worked in a variety of settings over the years, including the YMCA of Fredericton, Christ Church Parish Church, Brunswick Street Baptist Church, the University of New Brunswick, St. Thomas University, and most recently the Maritime Forestry Complex.

Ashley is a proud New Brunswicker and Maritimer. He loves Fredericton and enjoys hiking and biking the many trails in and around the city. During the weekend and summer vacation, he can usually be found with his wife Lana and daughters Piper and Sundae near the ocean, either on Grand Manan or Pocologan. Ashley is very grateful to be a part of the Cathedral congregation.

Born in Illinois and raised in Colorado, Kurt has lived in Fredericton since 2006.  He holds a bachelor’s degree from Colorado College (1997—major in Mathematics, minor in African Studies) and an MEd from the Institute for Humane Education in Surry, Maine (2011).

Kurt considers himself an educator at heart, and has spent the last nearly 30 years working as a teacher in diverse contexts and at various levels.  Kurt’s own spiritual journey includes formative periods among Jesuit teachers and mentors in high school, with monastic friends during university, alongside members of L’Arche communities in both Canada and the United States, and with various teachers of Celtic Christianity in recent years.

A lover of music, dogs, poetry, tennis and soccer — the real football! — Kurt lives in downtown Fredericton with his wife Catherine, an extramural occupational therapist.  And they have a daughter, Rachel.

Kurt says he is deeply honoured and blessed to be part of the Cathedral Staff team as Director of Christian Formation — with so many and varied opportunities to serve God and the dynamic Cathedral congregation.  Since July 2023, Kurt has also been working part-time with the Anglican Diocese of Fredericton.  His current diocesan position is Missioner of Christian Formation.

Professionally, Jason is an Army Officer in the Canadian Armed Forces in his 27th year of service. He belongs to the Royal Canadian Regiment which has a historical relationship with the Cathedral. Currently he works in downtown Fredericton at the Carleton Street Armouries as the Regular Force Adjutant attached to the Royal New Brunswick Regiment.

He holds a Bachelor of Military Arts and Sciences Degree from the Royal Military College at Kingston Ontario and a Diploma in Theology from Thorneloe University. He has also completed numerous theological courses with Wycliffe College as part of the Master of Theological Studies, due to changes in military educational funding and free time he has put the degree on hold. As an Infantry Soldier and Officer he has deployed to the former Yugoslavia, Haiti, Afghanistan, and Latvia with domestic operations to the Quebec Ice Storm, the Swiss Air disaster, and local emergencies.

Jason is married to Susan and together they have three children, Gabe, Nate, and Ivy. Jason came to the Anglican tradition in 2013 and has an ecumenical background within other Christian traditions. Jason began as Verger on 01 July 2019.

His role with the military has seen some increased demands combined with additional family commitments has seen the role of Verger take on an increasingly shared role with Hank Williams, whom Jason affectionately refers to as the Verger Emeritus. He is grateful for Hank’s willingness to share this role. Should anyone be interested in joining them in this shared role, they are encouraged to speak with Jason.