The Reverend Dr. Connie Phillipson
Priest-in-Charge

Reverend Connie has worshiped and led services in the Parish over the years and has experienced the beauty of the Haliburton Highlands since childhood.

She was ordained to the priesthood in the Diocese of Niagara in December, 2012. During her theological studies at Wycliffe College, she served at the Church of St. Mary Magdalene (Toronto) and later as Assistant Curate at St. Mark’s Anglican Church (Orangeville).

Reverend Connie joined the Diocese of Toronto in 2015 and served as the incumbent of the two-point Parish of North Essa from 2015 to 2021.

She completed her doctoral studies during the pandemic. In 2023, she returned to active ministry to lead Sunday services in the Parishes of Mulmur, Tottenham, East Orangeville, Haliburton, and in her former Parish of North Essa.

Prior to her call to ordained ministry, Connie worked for over 30 years in the criminal justice system. She also served as Executive Director to the York Regional Police Services Board from 2000 to 2009.

Connie graduated from the University of Toronto with her Bachelor of Arts, Master of Social Work, Master of Education, and Master of Divinity (Honours) degrees. In 2022, she graduated with her Doctor of Ministry Degree in Preaching from Acadia Divinity College (a Baptist College) in Wolfville, Nova Scotia.

She is excited about her ministry at St. George’s Anglican in the Parish of Haliburton, and invites everyone to come and worship the Lord Jesus Christ.

“This is the day that the Lord has made, so let us rejoice and be glad in it,” she reminds us, quoting Psalm 118:24. “My friends in Christ, come and worship.”

The Reverend Canon Dr. David Barker, Honourary Assistant

Father David was ordained in 1975, having felt called to the priesthood from his early high school years. Since his ordination in the Diocese of Toronto, he has served in several parishes (St. Wilfrid’s, Islington; Minden; Washago; Midland; St Timothy’s, North Toronto; and St Simon-the-Apostle, Bloor Street).  

Twenty years after graduating from Divinity at Trinity College, Toronto, he earned the Doctor of Ministry (in Preaching) degree from Seabury-Western Theological Seminary. 

In addition to sharing the joys and tasks of ministry, David’s wife Shirley has also been the bedrock of their family. Their three sons now are raising children of their own.

Not daunted by any task, Shirley and David built their own house in West Guilford, and retired there in 2012. They chose this area to be able to pursue their love of art. The call to preach (via a phone call from the bishop), however, keeps Fr David from truly retiring. Since retirement he has been interim priest-in-charge of Bobcaygeon, and then twice of Haliburton. He now serves as Honorary Assistant to the Parish of Haliburton.

The Reverend Margaret Milne, Honourary Assistant

Margaret was ordained to the diocese of the Arctic in 1997.  After serving there a few years, she returned to Haliburton.  She has helped out in the northeastern part of the diocese as a priest in charge, but more often informally in a dozen churches.

Margaret  was born in Toronto, taught elementary school in Scarborough and Nunavik.  Having an associateship (ARCT) in both piano and organ, she spent many years doing music, performing and teaching. She still enjoys music, including playing viola in the local orchestra.  She also enjoys visual arts, crafts, nature, swimming and dogs. Margaret and her husband Jim have four wonderful children and nine grandchildren.

Glenda Burk (Candidate, Vocational Deacon)

Glenda was born in Haliburton and has been an active member of St. George’s since her early childhood. Singing in the church choir has been one of her greatest joys. When she married her loving husband, Jim, almost 50 years ago, she encouraged him to join her at St. George’s, where they both continue to worship and serve.

Glenda worked as a legal secretary for 35 years before retiring to be a full-time grandma and an active volunteer in her church and community. Over the years, she has been involved with music ministry, youth ministry and various leadership roles at St. George’s, including being a lay minister for over 30 years. During the past year, Glenda has completed the diaconal formation process and will be ordained as a vocational deacon, God willing, sometime during the spring of 2025.

She feels blessed by God’s many gifts to her. She is especially thankful for her dear husband Jim, her three children, four grandchildren and her lifelong best friend, Bill Gliddon.  Glenda loves children, animals, music, hiking, camping and most outdoor activities.

Curtis Eastmure, Rector’s Warden

Louise Sisson, People’s Warden

Born and raised on a small farm north of Oshawa, Louise and her husband Earle moved to Haliburton from North Bay in 1969 to raise their family and be closer to Earle’s aging parents. She has been an active member of St. George's since her confirmation in 1979, serving as People's Warden under six different rectors since 1987.  She has over 60 years of work experience in legal, surveying, municipal planning and accounting/payroll.  Louise loves to work, teach and serve, giving back to her community with over 30 years of volunteering for different organizations. She especially loves a challenge, and is now focusing on learning to read music and to help lead a chair exercise program through the church's Seniors’ Ministry Program.  When not at the church, you can usually find her outside cutting grass, digging in her flower beds or hiking/snowshoeing the trails on our acreage.

David Bishop, Deputy Rector’s Warden

Born in Niagara Falls, Ontario, David first came to Haliburton and St. George's in 1942. He then lived in Grimbsby before moving back to Haliburton in 1946 until 1950. Moving then to Quebec he returned to Haliburton in 1953 and married Phyllis Ann Moore in 1959. He completed a Bachelor of Arts and then attended Osgoode Hall Law School. He then practiced law in Haliburton and has recently retired.

Jim Burk, Deputy People’s Warden

Jim grew up on the shores of Kashagawigamog Lake in the beautiful Haliburton Highlands. He values the lessons learned growing up in a large family with seven siblings. After completing his education, Jim worked as a forester with Ontario Hydro for 32 years and also operated a successful arborist business.

When he married Glenda, he joined her at St. George’s where they both feel blessed to be part of such a loving church family. Over the years, Jim has served in a variety of areas at his church. He is a long-time choir member, a member of the Servers’ Guild, and is currently involved in the parish as the property coordinator and deputy people’s warden.

He is grateful for God’s blessings in his life. He is especially thankful for his wife, Glenda, his three children and his four grandchildren. Jim enjoys all outdoor activities, especially camping, hiking and gardening.

George Thayer, Treasurer  

George has had a life-long association with St. George's, having been both baptized and confirmed here.  Some of his best memories are of singing in Bill Gliddon's choirs.  Holding a B.Sc. (Eng) from Queen's University, he worked his entire career in the tire industry, primarily in Quality Control and Process Improvement roles.
Growing up in Haliburton, George enjoyed the outdoors and is still an avid hiker and canoeist. It was only natural that upon his retirement he moved back to the Highlands in 2022 with Judy, his wife of 46 years.  One of his greatest joys has been sharing his appreciation of nature with his five children and 12 grandchildren.

Church Organist and Choir Director, Bill Gliddon, MusBac, ODT

Bill began his church organist career at age 12, serving as the assistant organist at Haliburton United Church for ten years before becoming the organist at St. George’s. Bill has a Bachelor of Music degree from the University of Toronto specializing in music composition and was a music teacher for 35 years, teaching kindergarten through grade 13 at various schools in the county. He has been honoured with the award, “Order of the Diocese of Toronto”, recognizing outstanding volunteer service over a significant period of time.

Office Administrator, Angie Garot

Angie became the office administrator late in 2021 and very much enjoys working with the other staff. She has lived in Minden with her partner and two teenage children for many years. Her children’s activities, especially hockey and figure skating, keep her very busy, but she hopes to get back to quilting eventually.