Staff
The Rev. Nick Griffith, Interim Priest.
Fr. Nick Griffith was born on the East Coast, calling Richmond, Virginia home. His first Parish placement was with the Anglican Church of Canada, serving as the Parish Priest for seven congregations on the Western Coast of Newfoundland. Fr. Griffith has done a variety of undergraduate and graduate studies in British Literature, Philosophy, Sociology, Divinity and Theology, studying in Richmond Virginia, Cambridge Massachusetts and in Oxfordshire England. While incredibly passionate and in love with the work and mission of the Church, Fr. Griffith also enjoys being active as he is an avid, runner, cyclist and swimmer. Now a canonical resident of the Diocese of Los Angeles, Fr. Nick lives in Koreatown, close to his longtime girlfriend (and Episcopal Priest) Rev. Yein Kim.
E-MAIL: info@stgregoryschurch.com
Music Director David Feit-Pretzer
David did his undergraduate and graduate work in Choral Conducting at California State University in Fullerton studying with David Thorsen and Gordon Paine. He was the founder and director of the Canterbury Carolers who entertained audiences for over twenty-five years. He has arranged music for, conducted and accompanied both the Master Chorale of Orange County and the Californians, a select group from the Master Chorale. He is the representative of the Orange County Chapter of the National Association of Church Musicians and is a past National President of NACM. David also currently serves as Dean of the Long Beach Chapter of the American Guild of Organists. He has toured Europe with the University Singers from CSUF and the Master Chorale. In 2000 he led a group from First Presbyterian Church of Westminster on a tour of Germany and Austria with performances in Salzburg and Vienna. Several of his choral ensembles have participated in concerts at Carnegie Hall in New York. He began his tenure as Director of Music and Resident Organist at St. Gregory’s Episcopal Church in Long Beach in August 2004, where he founded the Festival Choir and the highly successful Music at Four concert series.
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Parish Administrator Allen Ronk LaFoe
Allen Ronk LaFoe is a self-proclaimed Renaissance man and brings with him his many years of management and organizational experience in both the not-for-profit and private sectors. As an event coordinator, he has worked for various organizations including the Arts Council for Long Beach, St. Luke’s Episcopal Church, Long Beach Symphony Orchestra, Museum of Latin American Art and Smithsonian Institution. Allen plays several instruments including keyboards, drums, recorders and crumhorn, and is especially interested in Latin American and Middle Eastern music.
E-MAIL: info@stgregoryschurch.com
Nursery Caregiver – Laura Samaniego
Coordinator Christian Education – Laura Samaniego
Youth Group Leaders – Tamera Benedict and Mike Canzoneri