Parish Staff

The Rev. Paul Briggs, Interim Rector

The Rev. Paul Briggs was appointed as interim to St. Thomas’ Church in September 2023.  He is a native of Hartland, Maine, and was baptized at All Saints’, Skowhegan.  Ordained to the deaconate at St. Martin’s, Palmyra in 1981, he was ordained to the priesthood later that year at St. James’, Keene, NH.  Paul has served parishes in New Hampshire, Texas, Western Massachusetts, Connecticut, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania. He retired from full-time ministry at the end of March 2022, when his wife, The Rev. Barbara Briggs, accepted a call to be rector of St. Margaret’s, Belfast.  In addition to parish ministry, Paul was chaplain at Doane Academy, Burlington, NJ from 2015-2019.

Paul has four children: Meghan (East Longmeadow, MA), Joshua (Glendale, CA), Matthew, (deceased 2021), Caleb (rising senior, St. John’s College, Annapolis), and three grandsons: Henry, Wilder, and Clive. He enjoys woodworking and projects around the house, as well as, hiking and sailing.  He is a member of Penn Bay Stewards (Belfast Bay Watershed Coalition), and volunteers at the GBAM (Greater Belfast Area Ministry) food pantry.  His favorite food is any pie.

He received a B.A. from Mount Allison University, Sackville, NB, 1976 and M. Div. from The General Theological Seminary, New York, NY, 1981. Continuing Education includes Appreciative Inquiry, Anti-Racism Training, Godly Play Certification, Benedictine and Celtic Spirituality, in addition to leading pilgrimages to Israel, Taizé, and Iona.  He has wide experience in community and diocesan work and has served as congregational development consultant and clergy coach.

Clarissa Brown, Minister of Music

A Maine native, Clarissa Brown has been a music director and performer in area churches for many years. An educator as well as a musician, she is a docent for Friends of the Kotzschmar Organ and has participated in the Organ Festivals held at Merrill Auditorium. She received her Master’s in Organ Performance at Boston Conservatory in 2008, and also holds the CAGO and AAGO degrees from the American Guild of Organists.

Kayla Clay, Office Administrator

Kayla grew up in Northeastern Pennsylvania where she obtained an Associate’s degree for Medical Assisting and a Bachelor’s degree in Liberal Studies.

In 2011 she met her husband, Kyle, and they married a year and a half later in January of 2013.  Kayla has been lucky enough to live in and to be able to explore a few states, including Virginia, Ohio, and now Maine, as her husband serves in the United States Coast Guard.

Kayla and Kyle have 2 children, Kinsley and Logan. Together they love fishing, camping, and exploring the outdoors.  Kayla also enjoys drawing, painting, and crafting in her free time.

Tony Coyne, Sexton

I am very pleased to be working for St. Thomas’. I moved to the mid coast in 2009 from Vermont. I live in Rockland with my wife Pat. I am retired from work as a Residential Energy Auditor and also industrial glasswork. So happy to be a part of the St. Thomas’ team.