Dr. John — as everyone calls him — has been our pastor since September of 2012.  Prior to coming to the Congregational Church of Canton, he served local UCC churches in Wakefield, New Hampshire; Prairie Village, Kansas; and Cleveland, Ohio.

He earned his B.A. in English and Philosophy from Salem State University, his M.A. in British and American Literature from Northeastern University and his M.Div. from Andover Newton Theological School.   He also received his Ph.D. from Boston University in Practical, Systematic, and Sacramental Theology, with his doctoral dissertation focused on the sacrament of Holy Communion in the UCC denomination.

Dr. John’s passion is preaching.  He seeks to connect the biblical text to people’s lives in practical ways.  He also loves pastoral care and counseling — walking with people through the peaks and valleys of their lives, celebrating their joys as well as being a compassionate presence when they grieve.

A musician, a poet and a published scholar, Dr. John has three children — Sarah, John IV “Jay,” and Thomas — and married his soulmate, Cynthia Gallo (now Tamilio) on July 18, 2014.  For fun he likes cooking, fishing for large mouth bass, playing bocce and watching Boston Red Sox baseball (his other religion).  He is also a big movie buff!

If you have any questions, or would like to learn more about how you can get involved in the Congregational Church of Canton, please feel free to contact Dr. John via his e-mail at pastor@cc-cantonma.org.

Our Director of Christian Education is The Rev Deidre Scott.

Rev. Dee stepped into this position and enthusiastically “hit the ground running”. Born and raised in Walpole, she has been part of the Canton community for 23 years, living in what had been her grandparents’ home. She graduated from Wagner College in Staten Island, NY with a B.A. in Religion and Philosophy and received her M.Div. from Andover Newton Theological School.

Rev. Dee’s professional experience is rich and varied, having served in the positions of Pastor, Associate Pastor and Minister of Education and Family Ministry, at parishes in Allston, Brighton, Lowell and Northboro. She held interim positions as CE Director in Chelmsford and Summer Preacher in Woburn. In addition she served as a Protestant Chaplain, at Goddard House in Jamaica Plain for over 20 years and also at Medfield State Hospital.

Rev. Dee is “an animal person” and shares her life with 2 cocker spaniels.  She especially loves working as pastor to families and children, and is very excited about beginning as CE Director here in Canton. Please feel free to share with her about your ideas and dreams for the CE programs at our church.  She may be contacted through the church office or via e-mail at cedirector@cc-cantonma.org.

Richard Harvey (a.k.a. Rick), son of a full-time church organist/choir director and voice teacher, comes from the Flint, Michigan area. Of Methodist & Congregationalist parents, he was raised in the Episcopal Church.  Richard has been a choir accompanist since the mid 1960s and an organist since 1974.  He attended MSU in Michigan, receiving a Bachelor of Music and Teaching Certificate, later a Master of Music from University of Wisconsin in Madison.

Richard has accompanied for churches and K-12 school choirs, as well as college and community choirs in Michigan, Wisconsin and New York. He has also taught K-12 and college level music classes. A professional church choir singer in Rochester NY, he studied jazz at Eastman School of Music and was employed by the Rochester Public Schools as an accompanist in the early 1980s.  In addition, Richard’s church experience includes vocal choir and bell choir direction, and “praise band” keyboardist. He is glad to be at the Congregational Church of Canton and hopes to get to know people, serve to maintain a solid music program for all ages and take care of the church’s wonderful Allen organ.

Diane  is an experienced choral singer.  She is a long-time church member, and comes from a family with a strong musical background.  Diane has substituted as director for our choir on several occasions.  She has sung with various area choirs and choral groups. She studies music privately, and has previously studied with a McCloskey voice therapist.  Diane is presently employed as a certified Activity Professional.  She provides therapeutic activities and musical enrichment for residents of nursing homes and other senior-living facilities.   Diane’s primary goal as choir director, working with Rick, our organist, is to help create an atmosphere of increased confidence, musicality and  ‘ownership’ among choir members, leading to the growth of our choir and the joy of making beautiful music as we seek to enhance our church’s Sunday and other special services.