News and Events from Trinity Episcopal Church

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The Reverend Sharon K. Gracen

News and Events at Trinity Episcopal Church

News and Upcoming Events

After sixteen months of extremely intense work and prayer, the Vestry and Search Committee members are delighted to call The Reverend Sharon K. Gracen as the 47th Rector of Trinity Church, Branford.

Cick here to learn more about Rev. Gracen.

Trinity says goodbye to The Rev. Deacon Archibald Hanna, PhD

Archibald Hanna Jr., 93, retired Curator of the Western Americana Collection in the Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library at Yale, died June 24, 2010 at Atria Larson Place after a short illness. He was a resident of Branford for over 50 years, and earned his PhD from Yale. He joined the staff of the Yale University Library in 1949, and in 1952 was appointed Research Associate in the Yale History Department in 1960. He retired from the University in 1981.

During World War II he served in the United States Marine Corps from 1942-1946 as a Japanese Language Officer in the Central Pacific. He left the service as a First Lieutenant, but remained active in the Marine Corps Reserve, retiring in 1969 with the rank of Colonel.

In 1952 he published his Bibliography of John Buchan, in 1970 his Brief History of the Thimble Islands, and in 1985 A Mirror for the Nation, a bibliography of early 20th century American Social Fiction. He was an Honorary Trustee of the Yale Library Associates, and a member of the American Antiquarian Society, the Club of Odd Volumes and the St. Botolph Club.

At Trinity he was known as Archie. In June 1961 he was ordained as a Perpetual Deacon in the Episcopal Church, and served in that capacity at Trinity Church in Branford until 2005. A gentle man, Archie was loved, respected and known for his kindness, humility, love of books and of Trinity. Many of the books in the Guild Room were donated by Archie to support his vision of a Trinity library.

At Archie’s request a little while ago, a fund was established known as The Stained Glass Window Fund. Donations will be used to restore the large stained glass window above the church doors.

The return of the Trinity Lobster Dinner at the Branford Festival proves to be a success!

Lobster Dinner Sign Under the leadership of Steve Sharma, Mitch & Lisa Rucinski, the master chefs cooked 150 lobsters, 3 1/2 bushels of steamers, 125 ears of corn shucked and cooked and melted 6 pounds of butter! Many, many thanks go to helpers before, during and after the 4:00-8:00 PM serving hours. They include: Rodney and Peter Hayes, Dru Dodd, Gail Ball, Sally Monroe, Jim Atkinson, Russ Urqhart, Alexa and Christopher Rucinski, Laura and Matt Radulski, Maureen and Mike McGuinness, Glee Minor, Nancy Collins, Sue and Paul Rowan, the entire Nancy & John Williams family, Samdaye Sharma and Dave Rowe. The fabulous and colorful publicity posters were courtesy of Paul Humphrey. Newspaper ads were well placed and also donated (thanks Steve!). A portion of the event proceeds will go to the Branford Fuel Bank.

Trinity opened its doors to the community during the Branford Festival. Diane Rowley and Jim Atkinson welcomed many visitors who stopped by to see the church, while other visitors came to the Parish Hall to enjoy their lobster dinner. Trinity never looks better than when it’s full of people from the community saying “what a beautiful church, I had no idea”.

Thanks also to all the bakers who provided homemade goods for the bake sale And, you couldn’t miss the beautiful quilt on display, made by Trinity’s quilters, accompanied by raffle ticket sellers too numerous to mention over numerous hours. Thank you!

For more pictures from the 2010 Lobster Dinner, click here.

A nice sunny day for the Parish Picnic!

Our thanks go to the intrepid trio photo’d below, who organized, hosted and cheffed at the annual Parish Picnic.

Parish Picnic 2010

For more pictures from the 2010 Parish Picnic, click here.

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