Clergy and Staff
Rector
The Rev. Alexander D. Martin
fralex@stbarnabasbv.org
Father Alex (he/him) is passionate about creating a place where those who feel left out elsewhere can find a community to embrace them and unapologetically proclaim God’s boundless love for all people.
A native of Northeast Ohio, Fr. Alex has a Bachelor of Arts in History from The Ohio State University (where he dotted the “i” in Script Ohio) and a Master of Divinity from The General Theological Seminary of the Episcopal Church in New York City. In seminary, he served internships at the Church of the Ascension, Greenwich Village, NYC, and at the American Cathedral in Paris.
After graduation from seminary in 2013, Fr. Alex was ordained deacon, then priest in the Diocese of Southern Ohio. He spent five years as Associate Priest at St. Timothy's Episcopal Church in Cincinnati where he oversaw liturgy, pastoral care, and youth programs before being called to St. Barnabas in 2018. He currently serves as president of the Standing Committee of the Diocese of Ohio, one of our governing bodies and the Bishop’s council of advice.
Fr. Alex lives right up the street from the church in the rectory with his husband Rob, an administrator in Bay Village schools, and their Border Collie Maggie. Alex and Rob enjoy spoiling Maggie, being outdoors, cheering on the Buckeyes, and spending time with family. They are both lifelong Cleveland sports fans - especially the Guardians. Alex also follows tennis and Formula 1. He enjoys cycling around town, walking Maggie at Bradley Road Park, rowing in his single shell, and sailing on Lake Erie in his old Tartan 3000 called “Sabbatical.”
Fr. Alex is frequently in his office on weekdays, but he enjoys visiting people and being out in the community so he does not keep regular office hours. He can always be contacted at the email address listed above to schedule an appointment.
Deacon
The Rev. Barbara Maxwell
barmaxwell@windstream.net
The role as a deacon in the Diocese of Ohio is to be an icon of Christ’s bold love of the disenfranchised and his prophetic call for justice. Deacons are called to inspire the baptized to claim their authority as ministers of Christ in the world, especially in places of greatest need.
Deacon Barbara (she/her) was born and raised on a farm in Vermont, but moved to Ohio with a young family early in her marriage. She earned two degrees from Cleveland State: a BA in Education and a BA in social work. For many years she was licensed as both a teacher and a social worker in the State of Ohio. Additionally, Deacon Barbara holds a Master of Arts in Counselling and Community Service from John Carroll University. She worked for Catholic Charities until her retirement in 2012.
Deacon Barbara was sponsored for ordination by St. Andrew’s Church in Elyria and, in 2004, was ordained by the Rt. Rev. Mark Hollingsworth, Jr., Bishop of Ohio, at Trinity Cathedral in Cleveland. Deacon Barbara joins us on the second Sunday of each month for worship. She also serves on the staff of St. Luke's Episcopal Church in Cleveland with whom St. Barnabas partners on many projects.
In her free time, Deacon Barbara enjoys movies, reading, walking, and biking. She loves soccer and played clear into her fifties. Her New England roots mean that she loves the ocean, lobster, and the phrase “that was wicked good.” She is an avid fan of Boston sports: the Red Sox, Patriots, Celtics, and Bruins.
Deacon Barbara, with her late husband, has two children: a daughter in Maine who has two daughters of her own and a son in Virginia with a teenage daughter. Her love for soccer was passed on to her granddaughter in Virginia who has moves that Deacon Barbara can only dream about! She would love to be closer to family, but feels led by God to live out her calling as a deacon in the Diocese of Ohio.
Office & Youth Director
Leigh Ann Spratt
office@stbarnabasbv.org
Leigh Ann Spratt (she/her) has significant experience working in churches - especially with children’s ministry. Her background is in teaching, but she gave up full-time employment to raise her three sons. She is actively involved in their schools, the PTA, and Destination Imagination.
Leigh Ann holds an undergraduate degree in gifted education from Kent State and a master’s in creative writing from Cleveland State. She’s lifelong resident of Northeast Ohio.
In Leigh Ann’s role at St. Barnabas, she oversees children from birth through high school, as well as general administration such as staffing the parish office, managing calendars, and creating worship participant schedules. She also oversees all aspects of communication with our congregation and the wider community including creating bulletins, assembling the Thursday newsletter, updating the website, and managing our social media.
Outside of church, Leigh Ann’s passions include crochet, musical theater, and playing board games with her family. She and her husband Ryan, along with their sons Holden, Griffin, and Rory attend St. Barnabas and live in Bay Village with their rescue Pitbull mix Hercules Mulligan.
Verger
Lysa Kenney
verger@stbarnabasbv.org
Verger is a title given to lay people in our Anglican/Episcopal tradition who assist the clergy with the ordering of services. The office of verger has 16th century roots in the Church of England and a verger's duties can vary widely from parish to parish. At St. Barnabas, Lysa (she/her) oversees music and other aspects of the liturgy and helps organize our common worship. Those called to lead music within worship are more than just persons who select songs; they are a people who seek the Holy Spirit’s call in what is said and sung in worship. They are charged to sing biblical truths, and to build up the faith within the power of worship. This is not a task that Lysa takes lightly.
Lysa feels privileged to be able to support the congregation through our music program, aided by our talented accompanists, as well as the other musicians that join us to share their talents. Together our musicians offer up their hearts through music to help enrich the service and bring us closer to God.
St. Barnabas is a natural fit for Lysa because of the determination to make everyone feel welcome, and part of a greater family. Her favorite sound is when a hymn ends, and one of our littles is still singing…
Lysa grew up spiritually at St. Thomas Episcopal Church in Berea, has been an active member of the Church for as long as she can remember, and music and performing has always been a very important part of her life, personally and professionally.
In addition to St. Barnabas, she is also the National Sales Manager for a children’s audiobook program and has been working in the education field for over 15 years. She’s dabbled in just about everything…feel free to ask her about it!
Lysa’s family is very involved at St. Barnabas (excluding hockey season): her husband Chris can be found as an Usher and Counter; her son JR is an Acolyte; and her youngest son Simon likes to show all his new friends how things work in Sunday School - especially how to share fruit snacks!
Organist
Walker Whitehouse
Walker Whitehouse (he/him) is studying organ with Christa Rakich at Oberlin Conservatory. In addition, Walker is studying computer science at Oberlin College where his major is titled embodied ways of knowing in early western and world music. Walker loves Bach, Schumann, Corelli, the Duke, Ella, Chris Anderson, Samba, Merengue, Chabbi, and all kinds of good music.
Walker grew up in Massachusetts, where he was a varsity sailor, wrestler, and captain of the robotics team. During the summer, Walker spends his time in Maine sailing and directing a youth sailing program.
Walker came to the organ serendipitously: when doing cello concerto competitions, his accompanist, Kevin Murphy of Sudbury United Methodist Church, was an organist. As Walker’s great-grandfather had been the professor of organ at Northwestern University, he felt it was only right to ask if Mr. Murphy would teach him. Unfortunately, Covid hit and it wasn’t in the cards. Then, arriving at Oberlin as a cello major, Walker discovered that Oberlin has one of the best organ programs in the world. Seizing the opportunity, Walker asked if he could study with Professor Rakich as a secondary student, and a year later switched to major in organ.
Walker is an Eagle Scout who enjoys yogurt and doing Alexander Technique.
Choir Director
Dr. Stephan Knobloch
Steve (he/him) has served Episcopal churches as a choir director or choral singer since 1983. He began his conducting career while earning his Master’s Degree in Choral Conducting from Arizona State University. Prior to that, he sang with several church choirs while studying for his Bachelor’s Degree in Music Education from St. Norbert College.
For the past 20 years, Steve served the congregation of St. James’ Episcopal Church in Leesburg, Virginia as Director of Music. In addition to working with adult singers, Steve also directed the Children’s Choir of St. James’, as well as the Children’s Choir at St. Alban’s Episcopal Church, Washington, DC.
Steve’s love for choral music began as a chorister in the La Crosse Boy’s Choir and extended to serving as tenor section leader for the Master Singers of Virginia. Additionally, he sang with the Choral Arts Society of Washington and with the St. Thomas More Cathedral choir in Arlington, Virginia.
Steve received his Doctor in Education from the University of Virginia, and currently works with school districts throughout the United States doing academic planning and analytics.
Bookkeeper
Kim Wilson
finance@stbarnabasbv.org
Kim Wilson (she/her) is retired from more than twenty years in corporate finance. She holds a degree in business management from North Central State College and has done extensive professional development including earning a Women in Leadership certificate from Case Western Reserve University.
Kim is active at the Episcopal Church of the Redeemer in Lorain where she has served on the Vestry, as Senior Warden, Treasurer, and is currently a volunteer bookkeeper. She is active in a wide range of Redeemer’s ministries including service as lector, Eucharistic Minister, and Lay Eucharistic Visitor.
Making the most of retirement, Kim enjoys needlework, specifically counted cross stich, in which she once won first place in a competition at the Ohio State Fair. She weaves, knits, crochets, and even makes goats’ milk soap.
Kim lives in Sheffield Lake with her husband, Kurt. They have four adult children and six grandchildren that they enjoy spoiling. Their Maltese pup Molly allows them to live with her.
Nursery Caregiver
Danielle DiFino
Danielle (she/her) lives in Avon Lake with her fur baby Koda who is a 3 year old mini Australian shepherd. She has 16 years of experience in childcare.
She has worked with children of many ages and worked under many different curriculum. Danielle currently works at Glenview Childcare Center here in Bay Village in the toddler room since October 2021. Prior to working at Glenview she taught Pre-K for 4 years along with being a preschool curriculum coordinator. She loves planning and creating new and fun activities for the kids each day! She truly love working with young kids, and she approaches each child as an individual who she gets to help grow and teach.
On her days off you will catch her relaxing in pjs watching shows, hanging out with family and friends, or going for walks in the park with Koda. Danielle loves to read and listen to music and to learn new things. Her favorite thing to do is make people laugh because it's the best kind of medicine!
Sexton
Joel Gleason
As sexton, Joel (he/him) takes care of cleaning our building and small handyman repairs. Joel and his wife Abbey are both teachers and have two daughters. While in college he worked in residential carpentry, picked up knowledge in electrical while remodeling his first house, and his father (who is a retired pipe fitter) taught him about plumbing over the years.
Joel was first introduced to St Barnabas through Little Learners in 2019 when his older daughter started preschool. His family bought the house across the street in May of 2020. While working late nights remodeling he would always admire the church lit up at night.
Fr. Alex was one of the first to help when a tree fell on their house and many in the congregation helped provide meals during that time. Joel is glad to be able to give back as the caretaker of the church.
Church Dog
Maggie
Stop by the parish office on a weekday and you’re likely to be energetically greeted by Maggie, Fr. Alex’s nine-year-old Border Collie. Mags is passionate about two things: being pet and chasing balls. Throw the ball once, and you’re stuck all day. Still, she is easily the most enthusiastic greeter this church has ever known and she is a good dog - a very good dog.
Maggie, and all our pets, have many lessons to teach us about joy, faithfulness, and unconditional love.