Church Staff

Rev'd Canon Dr. Lorne Mitchell – Rector

Lorne Mitchell completed his Master of Divinity at Trinity College, Toronto and was ordained in 1988. After five years of ministry in a rural parish south of Ottawa he and his family moved to Kitchener where he completed Masters and Doctoral degrees in Pastoral Counselling and Marriage and Family Therapy at Wilfrid Laurier University. For seven years he was the Director of Pastoral Care at St. John’s Church, Kitchener and also had a private counseling practice. Lorne has also taught courses and lectured on Pastoral Care at Huron University College, London, Ontario. In December 2003, Lorne was appointed Rector of St. James’ Church, and in 2010 the Bishop appointed Lorne to be Canon of St. Paul’s Cathedral. He is married to The Rev. Lynn Mitchell and has two wonderful daughters, Laura and Elena. His interests are history, cycling, cooking, traveling and all kinds of music.

The Rev. Lynn Mitchell — Associate Priest

As Priest Associate at St. James’, the Rev. Lynn Mitchell applies her ministry gifts in the areas of liturgy and preaching, pastoral care, and Christian education with children, youth and adults.  She provides oversight and support for the Servers, the Chancel Guild, and coordinates a variety of educational opportunities, such as Life in the Eucharist, and Tuesday evening adult Christian education series.  Ordained in 1988, Lynn has served in rural and urban parishes in the Dioceses of Ontario and Huron.  She holds degrees in music, from the University of Toronto, and divinity, from Trinity College, and has pursued graduate studies in homiletics at the Waterloo Lutheran Seminary.  Lynn has a passion for music, and for several years worked as a flute teacher in Toronto, Florence, Italy, and Eastern Ontario.  She continues to teach a small number of students, and coaches flute players and wind ensembles for the Kiwanis Music Festival.  Lynn has a deep love of choral music, and sings in the Kitchener-Waterloo Grand Philharmonic Choir and, from time to time, with the St. James’ Choir.  For relaxation, she enjoys gardening, and trying out new and complicated cooking recipes.  Lynn and her husband Lorne are the enormously proud parents of Laura and Elena.

Beverley Savelle – Office Administrator

Beverley was born and raised in Stratford and is a proud “Mom” to daughter Janette Ballantyne and son James Savelle, and, blessed to be “Nana” to grandchildren Ryan and Jocelyn Ballantyne and Austin and Chelsea Savelle.

After raising her family, while working for the County of Perth (Engineering Department) in Stratford for 18 years, Beverley chose to venture north in 1989 to experience life amongst the Inuvialuit of the Western Arctic in Inuvik, Northwest Territories.

While employed with the Inuvialuit Development Corporation and the Government of the Northwest Territories, she had the opportunity to experience a unique way of life in a culturally diverse setting, meeting people from all around the world and from every walk of life, prior to her early retirement in 2008.

She volunteered with the Salvation Army Thrift Store in Clinton, ON, and is a past Secretary-Treasurer and Associate member (19 years) of the Royal Canadian Legion, McInnes Branch (Inuvik) where she coordinated programs to benefit youth and Elders of the community.

Beverley enjoys gardening, sewing, and reading in any spare time not spent chauffeuring and cheering on her grandchildren at their hockey, baseball and soccer games.

Susan Nagtegaal – Director of Music

Susan Nagtegaal has a Bachelor of Music and Certificate in Education from the University of Manitoba, a Master of Music from the University of Western Ontario and an Uitvoerend Musicus (Soloist Diploma in Organ) from the Rotterdam Conservatory in Holland. She has been a music instructor at the University of Manitoba and Wilfrid Lauier University and was Director of Music at Rosemount United Church in Waterloo for 19 years. During the week, Susan works at Manulife in Waterloo as an underwriter. She is married to Marlin and has a grown son Josh. In the warm weather you will see her out riding her Harley Davidson motorcycle.

Larry Davis — Church Custodian

Larry is a life long member of St. James’. He and his family have grown up here and have been involved in everything from variety sales to Chalice bearing. Larry has served in the past as churchwarden and has always had a keen interest in the building and property. Larry started working as Church Custodian at St. James’ in December 2002. If you are looking for him, you will find him cleaning, washing floors, doing minor repairs, checking the boiler, or vacuuming the various and sundry areas of the church. Larry is married to Phyllis and has two grown children, Stewart and Karen. Larry says: “Please keep and respect St. James’ as your second home!”