Clergy, Staff, and Vestry
The Very Reverend Canon Ian Elliot Davies, Rector
Canon Ian Elliott Davies was called to be the Eighth Rector of Saint Thomas the Apostle Episcopal Church in December 2001. Canon Davies, formerly an Assistant Priest at the Parish of All Saints Margaret Street, London, brings expertise in theology, spiritual direction and homiletics to this ministry in Hollywood.
He was educated in England and Wales, and ordained in the Church in Wales before continuing with postgraduate study at Cambridge and his appointment to All Saints’ in London.
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Joseph Warren, Parish Administrator
Joseph Warren has worked for STAH as Parish Administrator since 2005 and has served as President of Deanery III since 2020. He has also represented STAH many times over the years at Diocesan Convention. In addition to his duties for the church, he is a working actor (Winford Warren) and a graduate of the New York Conservatory for Dramatic Arts.
David Strouse, Organist
After graduation from The University Of Michigan, David Strouse enrolled at UCLA Law School. He graduated with the degree Doctor of Jurisprudence in 1981 and was admitted to the California Bar in 1982. Strouse completed his MBA (Finance) at UCLA in 1987 and was employed in June, 1987 by CBS Television. For 31 years Strouse was employed by CBS Television and for the last 15 was Vice President of Finance at Television City in Hollywood, reporting to CBS’s CFO. David Strouse is currently employed as an attorney by the U.S. Small Business Administration.
Although music is not by any means Strouse’s primary occupation, he has performed widely as pianist and organist. Three times he has been invited to Carcasanne, France, to perform organ solo recitals at the Basilica in the Ancient Walled City and at St. Michael’s Cathedral in the ‘new’ city. Twice he has been invited to play organ recitals on summer series in New York. As organist/pianist with the Camerata of Los Angeles for more than 30 years, Strouse performed throughout California and played solo organ and piano numerous times at Carnegie Hall in New York City. He performed Saint-Saen’s Organ Symphony with the New England Symphonic Ensemble at St. Bartholomew’s Church in New York City, and solo piano in Beethoven’s Choral Fantasie several times in both New York and Los Angeles. He has recorded numerous times as organ soloist with the Camerata of Los Angeles Chorus and Orchestra.
David Strouse has served several Los Angeles area churches as Organist/Director of Music including Grace Lutheran (13 years), STAH (11 years) and St. Nicholas (7 years).
Hernan Ruiz, Sexton
Stephen Kemp, Rector’s Warden
Stephen Kemp has been a member of St. Thomas the Apostle for over twenty years and has served as Clerk of the Vestry for over ten. He has lived in Los Angeles most of his life and was graduated from UCLA longer ago than he cares to think about, so don’t ask. He lives in West Hollywood with his partner of 23 years and makes his living as a litigation paralegal at A Very Large Law Firm – and when not working he spends a great deal of time in Church Nerd mode. Among his greatest concerns in life is making sure there is sufficient incense at the high masses (disclaimer -- despite the swinging thurible and the serious expression, no parishioners were harmed in the making of this image).
Debby Driscoll, Vestery Member & Parish Nurse
Artur Grigorian, Treasurer
Artur comes to St. Thomas from the Armenian Orthodox Church. The Anglo-Catholic traditions drew him in and he has never looked back. He enjoys applying his expertise as an accountant in the role of treasurer at St. Thomas, and also focuses on creating fun events including game/movie nights. He often volunteers as an usher and recently served on vestry. Artur trained and worked as a pastry chef and will never say no to an éclair or other confection.
Jennifer Parker, Vestry Member
Jennifer grew up in Virginia. As the daughter of an airline executive, she began a life of extensive travel almost at birth. When not traveling, her weekends were spent exploring the Chesapeake Bay on her family’s sailboat, with her parents, her cat, and a large selection of books. A historian of British architecture, Jennifer has spent many years in academia, studying at the University of St. Andrews, the University of Virginia, the Courtauld Institute of Art, and Columbia University, where she also taught Art History. She has worked in historic preservation in both the US and the UK. Most recently, she worked in management consulting. Jennifer was confirmed at St. Thomas in 2023 and currently serves as an acolyte and as a member of the vestry.
Sean Scheidt, Vestry Member
Randy Williams, Vestry Member
Randy Williams, a fourth-generation Southern Californian, arrived and became a parishioner at STAH in Advent 1999 and is in his fourth term as a member of the Parish Vestry. Having been a member of the Corps of Acolytes since 2000 he now serves as the parish Acolyte Master as well as one of the parish's Lay Deacons and Lay Chaplaincy. He currently serves as our area representative to the Diocesan Council and has also represented STAH many times over the years to the annual Diocesan Convention. From Long Beach, Randy lives in the South Bay and has worked in various positions, and now as a crew member with a major US-based air carrier since 1986. His late Mother, Cynthia Williams was a much-beloved member of the Parish Family and they both have considered their catholic Christian faith, aided by STAH and their friends here, who are like family, to be among their greater blessings in life.