Clergy, Staff, and Vestry
The Very Reverend Canon Ian Elliot Davies, Rector
Canon Ian Elliott Davies was called to be the Eighth Rector of Saint Thomas the Apostle Episcopal Church in December 2001. Canon Davies, formerly an Assistant Priest at the Parish of All Saints Margaret Street, London, brings expertise in theology, spiritual direction and homiletics to this ministry in Hollywood.
He was educated in England and Wales, and ordained in the Church in Wales before continuing with postgraduate study at Cambridge and his appointment to All Saints’ in London.
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Joseph Warren, Parish Administrator
Joseph Warren has worked for STAH as Parish Administrator since 2005 and has served as President of Deanery III since 2020. He has also represented STAH many times over the years at Diocesan Convention. In addition to his duties for the church, he is a working actor (Winford Warren) and a graduate of the New York Conservatory for Dramatic Arts.
David Strouse, Organist
After graduation from The University Of Michigan, David Strouse enrolled at UCLA Law School. He graduated with the degree Doctor of Jurisprudence in 1981 and was admitted to the California Bar in 1982. Strouse completed his MBA (Finance) at UCLA in 1987 and was employed in June, 1987 by CBS Television. For 31 years Strouse was employed by CBS Television and for the last 15 was Vice President of Finance at Television City in Hollywood, reporting to CBS’s CFO. David Strouse is currently employed as an attorney by the U.S. Small Business Administration.
Although music is not by any means Strouse’s primary occupation, he has performed widely as pianist and organist. Three times he has been invited to Carcasanne, France, to perform organ solo recitals at the Basilica in the Ancient Walled City and at St. Michael’s Cathedral in the ‘new’ city. Twice he has been invited to play organ recitals on summer series in New York. As organist/pianist with the Camerata of Los Angeles for more than 30 years, Strouse performed throughout California and played solo organ and piano numerous times at Carnegie Hall in New York City. He performed Saint-Saen’s Organ Symphony with the New England Symphonic Ensemble at St. Bartholomew’s Church in New York City, and solo piano in Beethoven’s Choral Fantasie several times in both New York and Los Angeles. He has recorded numerous times as organ soloist with the Camerata of Los Angeles Chorus and Orchestra.
David Strouse has served several Los Angeles area churches as Organist/Director of Music including Grace Lutheran (13 years), STAH (11 years) and St. Nicholas (7 years).
Stephen Kemp, Rector’s Warden
Stephen Kemp has been a member of St. Thomas the Apostle for over twenty years and has served as Clerk of the Vestry for over ten. He has lived in Los Angeles most of his life and was graduated from UCLA longer ago than he cares to think about, so don’t ask. He lives in West Hollywood with his partner of 23 years and makes his living as a litigation paralegal at A Very Large Law Firm – and when not working he spends a great deal of time in Church Nerd mode. Among his greatest concerns in life is making sure there is sufficient incense at the high masses (disclaimer -- despite the swinging thurible and the serious expression, no parishioners were harmed in the making of this image).
Geoff Clark-Tosca, Clerk
Geoff’s first experience with St. Thomas was Christmas Eve, 2016 and he was instantly hooked. Although growing up Baptist then confirmed as a Methodist, Geoff has found his true church home with St. Thomas and now enjoys leading the Digital Discipleship ministry and helping produce the St. Thomas “Theologically Speaking” podcast. He’s also the church Sacristan, leading the Altar Guild team. Geoff was recently voted as the Vestry Clerk and is looking forward to his term on the Vestry. Geoff lives with his husband, Ed, just a short walk away from the church. When not at church, Geoff and Ed can be found hiking around the neighborhood, admiring the beautiful scenery and homes. Geoff works full-time at Providence Health, helping improve health care delivery for those in need.
Artur Grigorian, Treasurer
Artur comes to St. Thomas from the Armenian Orthodox Church. The Anglo-Catholic traditions drew him in and he has never looked back. He enjoys applying his expertise as an accountant in the role of treasurer at St. Thomas, and also focuses on creating fun events including game/movie nights. He often volunteers as an usher and recently served on vestry. Artur trained and worked as a pastry chef and will never say no to an éclair or other confection.
John Connolly, Vestry Member
John P. Connolly, born into a gigantic Philadelphia Irish Catholic Family, comes to Hollywood and St. Thomas’ via the New York Theater. Before joining the Parish he long-attended Ash Wednesday, Good Friday and Stations of the Cross services hère, by dégrées gaining an ever-closer orbit around this Church and its Family. He is grateful for the Fellowship and Affection that breathes through This Place, and for the opportunity to serve our Parish Life. John is married to Bronni Stein,veteran Casting Director, Board Member of the Hollywood Heights Association, and a leader of the UCLA Film & Televison Archive. Son James and spouse Rachelle are noted Documentary Film-makers. Grand-daughter Luna, âge 7 "… and-a-Half! Pop-Pop!" … is a Delight to All in Her Acquaintance. Against all Odds, this Year John Celebrates his 50th Season as a Working Actor on Stage & Screen.
Judith Resell, Vestry Member
Judith joined St. Thomas twenty-five years ago and most enjoys mass, social ministry, the fresh floral arrangements, and adult formation. She is currently a screenwriter marketing her work with Roadmap Writers and she writes for the American Cinematheque blogspot. Dr. Resell's first career was as a senior research sociologist at UCLA's AIDS Institute and the Survey Research Lab at Arizona State University. She also taught college classes at both universities and the University of Chicago, where she received her Ph.D. Her two adult children, Jennifer and Charlie, live in Arizona and have been particularly missed during the COVID 19 lockdown.
Randy Williams, Vestry Member
Randy Williams, a fourth-generation Southern Californian, arrived and became a parishioner at STAH in Advent 1999 and is in his fourth term as a member of the Parish Vestry. Having been a member of the Corps of Acolytes since 2000 he now serves as the parish Acolyte Master as well as one of the parish's Lay Deacons and Lay Chaplaincy. He currently serves as our area representative to the Diocesan Council and has also represented STAH many times over the years to the annual Diocesan Convention. From Long Beach, Randy lives in the South Bay and has worked in various positions, and now as a crew member with a major US-based air carrier since 1986. His late Mother, Cynthia Williams was a much-beloved member of the Parish Family and they both have considered their catholic Christian faith, aided by STAH and their friends here, who are like family, to be among their greater blessings in life.