The Rev. Michael Sweeney, the 21st rector of Christ Church, has joyfully served this community since the summer of 2024, when he, his wife, Briget, and their three children moved to Guilford from Richmond, VA, where Michael served as Middle School Chaplain at St. Christopher's School.
Previously, he served as Director of Youth and Family Ministries at St. Stephen's Episcopal Church, also in Richmond.
Michael's life and call to ordained ministry have been significantly shaped by many wonderful faith communities, especially St. James' Episcopal Church in Greenfield, MA (where he grew up), Camp Bishopswood in Midcoast Maine (where he worked 11 summers), and Kripalu Center for Yoga in the Berkshires (where he spent one pivotal year). Michael has long loved the CT shoreline and has ancestral roots in Guilford that go back to 1639.
Previously, he served as Director of Youth and Family Ministries at St. Stephen's Episcopal Church, also in Richmond.
Michael's life and call to ordained ministry have been significantly shaped by many wonderful faith communities, especially St. James' Episcopal Church in Greenfield, MA (where he grew up), Camp Bishopswood in Midcoast Maine (where he worked 11 summers), and Kripalu Center for Yoga in the Berkshires (where he spent one pivotal year). Michael has long loved the CT shoreline and has ancestral roots in Guilford that go back to 1639.
The Rev. Cathi Head Bencken
Cathi first served with Christ Church as a regular supply priest beginning in 2022 when the parish was between rectors. Cathi was added to the staff of Christ Church in February 2026 as part-time priest associate.
She was ordained in the Diocese of Western New York in 2007 after completing her M.Div. at Bexley Hall in Rochester NY. She served in Western New York, Mississippi and Iowa.
Prior to ordination, Cathi had a 28-year career as a registered nurse, mostly practicing in Iowa and Nevada. Specialties included neonatal, pediatric oncology and nursing management. She also went on short-term medical mission trips to Haiti and Honduras and lived in Mexico City for a time as a young adult.
Cathi and her husband Charles (also a retired priest) have a blended family of five adult children, eight grandchildren and various grand-pets. Sadly Charlie passed away in October 2023 after a diagnosis of glioblastoma.
Cathi first served with Christ Church as a regular supply priest beginning in 2022 when the parish was between rectors. Cathi was added to the staff of Christ Church in February 2026 as part-time priest associate.
She was ordained in the Diocese of Western New York in 2007 after completing her M.Div. at Bexley Hall in Rochester NY. She served in Western New York, Mississippi and Iowa.
Prior to ordination, Cathi had a 28-year career as a registered nurse, mostly practicing in Iowa and Nevada. Specialties included neonatal, pediatric oncology and nursing management. She also went on short-term medical mission trips to Haiti and Honduras and lived in Mexico City for a time as a young adult.
Cathi and her husband Charles (also a retired priest) have a blended family of five adult children, eight grandchildren and various grand-pets. Sadly Charlie passed away in October 2023 after a diagnosis of glioblastoma.
The Rev. Dr. Drew Collins
Drew Collins and his family have lived in Guilford since 2017, where he and his wife, Mary, moved after four years in Cambridge (UK) where Drew received his PhD in theology, working with Prof. David Ford on the Christian theology of religions, the theology of Hans Frei, and the 20th century ecumenical movement. Drew received his B.A. in Religious Studies from Yale College and his M.Div. from Yale Divinity School and moved to London to serve as the University Program Manager at the Tony Blair Faith Foundation, overseeing a global network of nine universities collaborating on research and teaching on the intersection between the secular forces of globalization and religious faiths.
Drew and Mary met in London while they were volunteering on an Alpha Course at Holy Trinity Brompton. They have three children – Aggie, the eldest, and twin boys, Archie and Wilfred. Drew loves fly-fishing, going to concerts, reading novels, playing the guitar (and a few other stringed instruments, very amateurishly), and skiing (downhill and x-country). Drew is employed full-time at the Yale Center for Faith & Culture, where he is Assistant Director of the Christ & Flourishing Program and is Associate Research Scholar and Lecturer at Yale Divinity School and Yale College.
Drew Collins and his family have lived in Guilford since 2017, where he and his wife, Mary, moved after four years in Cambridge (UK) where Drew received his PhD in theology, working with Prof. David Ford on the Christian theology of religions, the theology of Hans Frei, and the 20th century ecumenical movement. Drew received his B.A. in Religious Studies from Yale College and his M.Div. from Yale Divinity School and moved to London to serve as the University Program Manager at the Tony Blair Faith Foundation, overseeing a global network of nine universities collaborating on research and teaching on the intersection between the secular forces of globalization and religious faiths.
Drew and Mary met in London while they were volunteering on an Alpha Course at Holy Trinity Brompton. They have three children – Aggie, the eldest, and twin boys, Archie and Wilfred. Drew loves fly-fishing, going to concerts, reading novels, playing the guitar (and a few other stringed instruments, very amateurishly), and skiing (downhill and x-country). Drew is employed full-time at the Yale Center for Faith & Culture, where he is Assistant Director of the Christ & Flourishing Program and is Associate Research Scholar and Lecturer at Yale Divinity School and Yale College.
Mark Sullivan is proud to serve as Music Director at Christ Church. Mark studied piano with Andrew Klein of the Pre-College Division at The Juilliard School and went on to undergraduate and graduate studies in piano performance, composition, and conducting at the School of Music at Boston University. A Guilford resident for 25 years, Mark appears regularly as a soloist and accompanist, and has served as Music Director of St. Andrew's, Madison, and the United Methodist Church of Clinton, among other positions. He came to Christ Church in the Fall of 2013. Mark can be reached at music@christchurchguilford.org.
Linda DePedro is our Parish Administrator. Linda recently joined the team and is the daily cheerful and helpful presence in the office. Linda is originally from Prospect, CT but now lives in Killingworth with her husband. She has three children and seven grandchildren. She enjoys reading, walking, spending time with her grandchildren and her new found love of the local beaches.
Linda can be reached during office hours, Monday - Friday, 9:00am-12:00pm. Otherwise you can leave a message at 203-453-2279, or an email to [email protected].
Linda can be reached during office hours, Monday - Friday, 9:00am-12:00pm. Otherwise you can leave a message at 203-453-2279, or an email to [email protected].
Page Pelphrey, Director of Youth Faith Formation, was born in Raleigh, North Carolina and is what we sometimes call a “Cradle Episcopalian.” Growing up, she went to Sunday School, VBS, youth group, weekend retreats, summer camp, confirmation class, and mission trips to Honduras, Nicaragua, and the Dominican Republic. She was part of a college group of Episcopal campus ministry. She knows the Eucharist in Spanish, French, and English. What keeps her reciting the prayers of the people and lighting those Advent candles four weeks before she even dares say Merry Christmas to anyone? The love of community, fellowship, the need to pray, and worship together in a judgment free environment where anyone and everyone is welcome. She believes in following the promises made in her Baptismal Covenant: Love your neighbor as yourself and respect the dignity of every human being. She also believes everything can be seen through the lens of scripture. Page lives in Guilford and teaches in Madison during the week. She has two cats and three older children. She loves coffee, science fiction and fantasy, and finding signs of God in everyday life. Page can be reached at [email protected].