Reverend Barbara Callaghan, Senior Minister
Rev. Barbara Lea Callaghan is the Senior Minister of Hancock United Church of Christ. Barbara is passionate about building communities of depth and love that are engaged in liberative social transformation through the power and grace of God.
Barbara earned her undergraduate degree at UNC-Chapel Hill. After college she worked as a campus minister for a non-denominational college ministry in South Carolina and North Carolina. Barbara then earned her MS in Counseling and Educational Development from UNC-Greensboro, and became a Licensed Professional Counselor. She worked as a Family and Children’s Counselor for Kids’ Path, a Hospice program for children, in Greensboro, NC. Barbara then established her own counseling practice, Sacred Journeys, PC, where she worked with a variety of clients for seven years. Barbara was in the midst of a ten year counseling career when she heard the call to go to seminary and pursue ordained ministry. She graduated with her MDiv from Union Theological Seminary in the city of New York in 2013 and was ordained in the UCC shortly thereafter.
Barbara served as a Minister of Youth and Young Adults at a UCC church in New Jersey upon graduation from seminary. She accepted the call as Second Minister of HUCC in 2015, and was called by unanimous congregational vote as Senior Minister in 2021. Barbara is currently pursing her Doctorate of Ministry in Biblical Interpretation and Proclamation at Candler Theological School at Emory University. She will graduate in 2022.
On a personal note, Barbara loves to run, bike (both road and mountain), do CrossFit, hike, write, read, watch UNC college basketball, and spend time with family and friends. She and her wife Kate also stay active by trying to keep up with their kids, Eliza (4), Oliver (1), and their golden retriever, Cuzco.
David C. Clark, Second Minister
David is a native of the beautiful state of Maine and a graduate of Andover Newton Theological School. He is a third generation MDiv on his father’s side and is excited to pursue a life in ministry. His spiritual life began as a child at the UCC summer camp, Pilgrim Lodge where he counseled, volunteered, and for the past four years served as the assistant director. He’s worked in residential student life at his alma mater the University of South Maine, as a youth counselor with Goodwill Industries of Northern New England, and taught in many environments such as churches, adult eds, and at the college level.
Katie Brown-Bright, Student Minister for Children and Families
Katie Elliot is a second year Master of Divinity student at Boston University. She is originally from Houston, Texas, but has lived in the Boston area for almost ten years. She received her B.S. in Biology from Gordon College in Wenham, MA. She has a passion for working with children and spent four years working with autistic children before starting her theological education. She loved the opportunity to get to know the children she worked with and to be a part of their growth. She has volunteered in kid’s church programs since she was in middle school, and is passionate about childhood spiritual formation. She plans to work in a church context after she graduates from BU, and is excited for the opportunity to learn and serve with you at Hancock Church! In her spare time she enjoys knitting, drawing, and spending time with her 9 month old nephew.
Mark Morgan, Director of Music
Director of Music Mark Morgan joined the Hancock staff in June of 2009. He has served 6 different churches in 5 different states over the course of his over 30 year career in church music. Mark firmly believes in the integration of music with the rest of the worship in order to create a unified, uplifting worship experience. Mark is the Director of the Chancel Choir, the Hancock Choristers, and the River Rock Band. With a keen interest in children and education, he encourages persons of all ages to share their musical gifts with the congregation. A professional singer, conductor, teacher, and composer, Mark was the Artistic Director and Co-Founder of New England Light Opera and sings with various area groups. A native of Wisconsin, Mark is a graduate of Macalester College and the Eastman School of Music. He lives in Melrose with his wife Amy and two sons, Owen and Hugh.
For more on Mark’s professional activities, visit markdmorgan.com.
By appointment
Marilyn Becker, Director of Handbell Ministries
Marilyn Becker became the Associate Director of Music in 2009 after serving for a year as Interim Director of Music. She has served as a professional church musician since her first job as a paid chorister in college. She brings a love of music and teaching to all her work at Hancock.
With a background in conducting, organ & piano, and accompanying she is a versatile member of the music staff. Her responsibilities at Hancock include directing the Hancock Carillon and playing the organ. Marilyn is a graduate of New England Conservatory of Music and Westminster Choir College.
Sundays
Ian Watson, Organist
Multi-talented Ian Watson has been described by The Times in London as a “world-class soloist”, performer of “virtuosic panache” and by the Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung as “a conductor of formidable ability.” He is Artistic Director and Music Director of the Connecticut Early Music Festival, and Associate Conductor of the Handel and Haydn Society.
Ian won a scholarship at age 14 to the Junior School of the Royal Academy of Music in London, later winning all the prizes for organ performance. He completed his studies with Flor Peeters in Belgium.
Ian has appeared with most major UK orchestras and also the Polish and Stuttgart Chamber Orchestras, Bremen Philharmonic, Rhein-Main Symphony, Colorado Symphony, Komische Oper Berlin, and Darmstadt State Opera among numerous others. He is featured on many film soundtracks including Amadeus, Polanski’s Death and the Maiden, Restoration, Cry the Beloved Country, Voices from A Locked Room, and the BBC‘s production of David Copperfield.
Suzie Barry, Director of Operations
Suzie comes to Hancock with over 10 years working for churches, most recently in Bedford, MA. A native Lexingtonian and graduate of Bentley University, she lives in Lexington with her husband Mike, has two grown sons, a dog, and two cats. An active member of the Lexington community, in her spare time she likes to garden, bake and read a good mystery novel.
