2019 Board Nominee: John Townsend

John Townsend, FVGEC

Church of the Good Shepherd, Nashua, New Hampshire

Click here to watch John's 3 minute interview on VergerTV

John is a cradle Episcopalian, born and raised in the Diocese of New Hampshire. Having enrolled in Mount Hermon School, in Northfield, Massachusetts, he served as Acolyte for the Episcopal chaplain of the school, as Deacon at the multi-denominational services, and as Chorister in three different choirs. Enrolling in the University of New Hampshire, he received a B.S. in Hotel Administration, and a B.A. in Linguistics. During that time, he attended St. George’s Church in Durham, and St. Thomas’s Church in Dover. He also served as an Ad Hoc member of the Seacoast Convocation’s Task Force for Christian Education. Upon coming back to the United States after four years in Valencia, Spain, John returned to school and earned a degree in Nursing from Rivier College, and is currently working in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit at Southern New Hampshire Medical Center in Nashua. He joined the Church of the Good Shepherd, in Nashua in 1986, quickly becoming involved in parish life. He became a member of the Fellowship Committee, served a three year term on the Vestry, and now serves as a Eucharistic Minister, a Eucharistic Visitor and as Acolyte Master of the Youth Acolyte Corps. He was appointed Verger in 2001. He completed the Vergers’ Training Course and received his verge in San Diego, in 2009. John has since worked with the Altar Guild, and the lead Eucharistic Minister to revamp and modernize the customaries of the Altar Guild, the Eucharistic Ministers, Eucharistic Visitors and the Acolyte Corps. He is also working with a new Verger, who is currently completing the Vergers’ Training Course. John also serves as a delegate to the Southern Convocation, where he recently presented a short program on the Vergers Ministry, and to the Diocesan Convention.