About Us

The Rev. Alistair Macdonald-Radcliff, Rector

Alistair Macdonald-Radcliff, first studied Ancient History and Philosophy before taking advanced degrees in Philosophy of Religion and Theology, studying in London Oxford and Yale where he was Research Fellow and also studied Islam and took a Degree with international Relations. After ordination, he worked on international and development issues before working for Lord Carey the 103^rd Archbishop of Canterbury and appointment as Senior Advisor to the World Economic Forum where he designed the Council of One Hundred Leaders West Islamic Dialogue. A former Dean of All Saints’ Cathedral Cairo he has worked extensively on interfaith matters as well as sustainable development while based in the Middle East and Europe as well as North America. 

The Rev. Jay C. James, Assisting Rector

The Rev. David J. Thompson, Parochial Vicar

Fr. Thompson joined the Advent staff in the summer of 2020 and previously served at Church of the Incarnation in Dallas, TX. He attended seminary at Wycliffe College in Toronto, ON and has experience in ministry to the homeless, schools, church planting, and evangelism to the unchurched. Fr. David and his wife Heather are originally from central Oklahoma. They have three school-aged children.

The Rev. Thomas Adams, Honorary Assistant 

The Rev. Dr. Clarence Butler, Honorary Assistant

Mark Dwyer, Organist & Choirmaster

Mark Dwyer came to the Advent from St. Paul’s Parish, K Street, in Washington, DC, in 2007. He was formerly the Music Director at the Cathedral of All Saints in Albany, NY, and before that Associate Organist & Choirmaster here at the Advent. A Worcester native and 1985 graduate of the New England Conservatory, he studied with Yuko Hayashi, William Porter, Frank Taylor, and Charles Krigbaum. Mark has also been a faculty member and choirmaster at the annual Saint Michael’s Conference for Young People for many years. He is featured on several recordings by the Advent Choir and is the performer on a JAV recording of the Advent’s Aeolian-Skinner organ in the series “Great Organ Builders of America: A Retrospective.” Mark and his wife Cheryl have a son, Douglas.

Andrew Scanlon, Associate Organist & Choirmaster

Andrew Scanlon came to The Advent in September 2021. From 2009-2021 he was the organ professor at East Carolina University and Organist-Choirmaster at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church in Greenville, NC. Prior to Greenville, Andrew has spent time at Duquesne University, Christ & St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church (New York), St. Paul’s Episcopal Cathedral (Buffalo), First Presbyterian Church (Pittsburgh), and Marquand Chapel at Yale Divinity School. His CD recording, Solemn and Celebratory, featuring the Fisk organ at St. Paul’s in Greenville, was released in 2013.

Operations

Karen Harrington, Director of Operations

Jim Singletary, Parish Adminstrator

Moses Buyondo, Sexton

Children & Family Ministry

Lauren Mojarrab, Director of Children’s Education

Lauren began working in the Advent’s family ministries in the summer of 2020. She studied Literature and Classical Education at Grove City College in Pennsylvania. Lauren grew up in Minnesota, but has lived in Boston since 2020 with her husband and two children.

Vestry (2024)

Meg Nelson, Rector’s Warden

Thatcher Gearhart, People’s Warden

Ryan Taliaferro, Treasurer

Andrew Huss, Clerk

John Boyd

C. Thomas Brown

Maria Denslow

Stephanie Krein

Carolyn McDermott

Xander Mojarrab

Frederick Ou

Paul Roberts

Julianne Turé

Maggie Westberg